There’s nothing worse than being stranded on the side of the road. Not only is it frustrating, it can be dangerous. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to reduce the chances you’ll get stranded. Denton Towing Company has prepared this helpful checklist to help you avoid needing a tow or other emergency roadside assistance.

Steps to Avoid a Break Down on the Side of the Road or Highway

1. Keep your phone charged. Not being able to call for help is a nightmare. Always keep your phone charged and have a portable charger at the ready in your glove compartment. These chargers can charge your phone and ensure you’ll have a full battery even if your car is dead.
2. Check your tire pressure. The number one cause of getting stranded are tire blowouts and flat tires. To prevent this from happening check the tire pressure weekly to make sure it meets the manufacturer’s standards. Check the treads to make sure they’re still long enough to grip the road. The manual for your car will have the guidelines for the correct tread depth. If you notice any problems, change the tires right away and to make your tires last longer, you should have them rotated every 3,000 miles or so.
3. Keep a full tank of gas. Filling gas isn’t at the top of everyone’s list but the best way to ensure you won’t be stranded on the side of the road is to make sure the tank is full. When your tank gets to half full make it a habit to fill the tank up. This will ensure that mistakes your car makes in measuring the amount of fuel won’t be an issue.
4. Schedule regular tune-ups. Life is busy and getting our car tuned-up probably isn’t at the top of our list of things to do but just because your car is running fine doesn’t mean they’re aren’t underlying problems. This can leave you stranded due to unnoticed problems. Make sure you get your car tuned up to avoid wasted time from getting stranded.
5. Do not ignore maintenance or check engine lights. It’s not a good idea to put off getting your car checked when the maintenance light comes on. This can case minor problems to become more serious and more expensive so get your car checked out as soon as this light comes on.
6. Follow driving rules. All we want to do at the end of a long day is to get home but it’s important not to speed, tailgate or drive while you’re on the phone. These all increase the chances that you’ll get in an accident. Resist the urge to break the law so you won’t be stranded on the side of the road. It’s also not fair to put other people at risk because you want to get home.
7. Maintain windshield wipers and fluids. The only time a sudden downpour will be a problem is if you have insufficient windshield wipers. Not being able to see through the windshield when they’re going at full speed means they need to be changed. Change them as soon as they appear dull and keep a spare set in your trunk.

Towing & Roadside Assistance in Gainesville, Valley View, Sanger, Sherman, Frisco, Allen, McKinney, Farmersville, Plano, Garland, Dallas, Grapevine, Irving, Arlington, Fort Worth, Azle, Springtown, Bridgeport, Jacksboro, Bowie, Decatur, Muenster, St Jo & Denton, Texas | Thackerville, Oklahoma

Always pull over at the first sign of any trouble. Don’t try and make it home. Best case scenario is you don’t ever need to use a towing service but if you do then give Denton Towing Company a call!