A vehicle breakdown can happen without warning. On a Houston freeway, however, a mechanical problem can quickly become a serious safety concern because of heavy traffic, high speeds, extreme heat and changing weather conditions.
For Houston residents, including members of the Pakistani and South Asian communities, knowing how to respond when a vehicle becomes disabled is an important part of personal disaster and emergency preparedness.
One resource drivers should know about is Tow and Go, which provides free assistance to stranded motorists whose vehicles break down on a freeway.
A vehicle breakdown can become a safety emergency
A stalled vehicle is more than an inconvenience when it happens on a busy freeway.
A driver may be dealing with fast-moving traffic, limited visibility, extreme summer temperatures or severe weather. In these circumstances, getting out of the vehicle or standing near the roadway can expose people to additional danger.
That is why having a simple emergency plan can make a difference.
If your vehicle becomes disabled on a Houston freeway, the first priority should be making yourself visible to other motorists and remaining in a safe position while help is arranged.
What to do when your vehicle breaks down
If your vehicle suddenly stops working on a freeway, follow these basic steps:
1. Turn on your hazard lights
Hazard lights alert approaching drivers that your vehicle is experiencing a problem.
2. Stay inside the vehicle
Remain inside your vehicle while waiting for assistance, with your seatbelt buckled.
On a busy freeway, walking around outside the vehicle can expose you to moving traffic.
3. Call for assistance
Tow and Go can be reached at 713-881-3333.
According to the service information, Tow and Go will take you and your vehicle to a safe location within one mile of the breakdown at no cost.
Why this matters during Houston emergencies
Houston regularly experiences conditions that can make roadside incidents more difficult to manage, including extreme heat, heavy rain, flooding and severe storms.
During an emergency or major weather event, a vehicle breakdown can leave people particularly vulnerable.
For example, a driver whose vehicle becomes disabled during extreme summer heat may face rapidly increasing temperatures inside and outside the vehicle. During severe weather, heavy rain can also reduce visibility and make freeway traffic more dangerous.
Planning ahead is therefore an important part of disaster preparedness.
Make roadside safety part of your emergency plan
Houston families can add a few simple steps to their household emergency planning:
- Save 713-881-3333 in your phone.
- Keep your mobile phone charged when making long trips.
- Carry drinking water, particularly during hot weather.
- Keep basic emergency supplies in your vehicle.
- Check your vehicle before long journeys.
- Know how to turn on your hazard lights.
- Make sure children remain safely secured in the vehicle.
- Avoid standing on or walking along the freeway unless there is an immediate danger requiring you to leave the vehicle.
The goal is not to assume that a breakdown will happen. It is to make sure you already know what to do if it does.
A useful number for Houston’s Pakistani community
For Pakistani families living in the Greater Houston area, emergency preparedness often focuses on hurricanes, flooding, extreme heat and other major disasters.
But smaller emergencies can also become dangerous when they happen in the wrong place or at the wrong time.
A vehicle breakdown on a freeway is one example.
Parents can share basic freeway-safety information with teenagers who drive. Families can also save emergency numbers in their phones and keep a basic roadside kit in their vehicles.
Knowing the local system before an emergency occurs can reduce confusion and help people make safer decisions under pressure.
Keep this information handy
If your vehicle breaks down on a Houston freeway:
Turn on your hazard lights.
Stay inside with your seatbelt buckled.
Call Tow and Go at 713-881-3333.
Tow and Go will take you and your vehicle to a safe location within one mile of the breakdown at no cost, according to the service information provided.
For more information, visit Tow and Go.
America Survival Tip: A disaster does not always begin with a hurricane or major storm. Sometimes, it starts with a car that suddenly stops on a busy freeway. Knowing your emergency steps — and having important numbers saved before you need them — can help turn a dangerous situation into a manageable one.
