> **Quick Answer:** Get as far off the road as possible, turn on your hazard lights immediately, and exit the vehicle on the passenger side. Stand behind the guardrail if one exists, never beside your car. Call for a tow, then stay away from the travel lanes entirely. At night, a reflective triangle or flares placed 200 feet behind your car give approaching drivers more time to react.
## What Should I Do the Moment My Car Dies on the Highway?
Steer to the far right shoulder in a controlled coast, then get as far from the travel lanes as the shoulder allows. Do not stop in the lane, do not stop at the edge of a lane, and do not stop in the gore point (the striped triangle where an exit ramp splits off). Those zones see the highest rate of secondary crashes involving disabled vehicles.
Once stopped, shift into park, set the parking brake, and turn on your hazard lights. Do this even in daylight. Drivers coming off a curve or over a rise have fractions of a second to react to a stopped car, and flashing lights cut that reaction time significantly.
If your car dies in a lane and you cannot coast to the shoulder, stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on and call 911. A car with a seatbelt is safer than standing in a live traffic lane.
## Should I Stay in My Car or Get Out?
Get out of the car and move away from traffic, unless you are in a situation where exiting puts you in moving traffic (like a blind curve with no shoulder). A stopped car on a highway shoulder gets hit by inattentive drivers more often than most people expect. Being inside it when that happens is extremely dangerous.
Exit from the passenger side, away from traffic. Move past the guardrail if one is present and wait there. If there is no guardrail, walk as far up the embankment or grass median as you can, staying well clear of the white fog line. Keep your eye on traffic behind you the entire time.
If you have children or pets, get them out and away from the car too. Do not leave them buckled in a vehicle sitting on a live shoulder.
## How Do I Make My Broken-Down Car More Visible to Other Drivers?
Hazard lights are your first line of defense, but add physical markers as quickly and safely as you can. Reflective triangles or road flares placed at 100 and 200 feet behind your vehicle give drivers meaningful advance warning, especially on curves or hilly sections where sight lines are short.
If you have a reflective vest in your roadside kit, put it on before you step out. If you do not, position yourself where you are visible but protected. Keep your phone's flashlight pointed toward oncoming traffic if it is dark or raining.
Do not lift the hood as a distress signal and then stand near the open hood. That habit puts you right next to a car that is sitting in a danger zone. If you want to signal distress, tie something bright to your antenna or door handle and stay behind the guardrail.
For nighttime breakdowns specifically, the steps are different enough that they are worth reviewing in detail. See [Broken Down on Highway at Night: Safety Tips and What to Do Right Now](/broken-down-on-highway-at-night-safety-tips-what-to-do/) for a full breakdown of what changes after dark.
## What Do I Do While I Wait for the Tow Truck?
Call for your tow first, then call 911 if you are in a genuinely dangerous position (no shoulder, blind curve, construction zone). Dispatchers can send a highway patrol unit to protect your lane or block traffic while you wait.
Give the tow company your exact mile marker or exit number, not just the highway name. On interstates, mile markers are posted on small green signs on the right shoulder every mile. This is the single fastest way to help the driver find you. If you are near an interchange, say so: "northbound I-80, just past the mile 214 marker, before the Route 9
*Photo: Pexels*
overpass" is far more useful than "on I-80 near the highway."
Stay on the same side of the road as your car, and do not wander toward the tow truck when you see it approaching. Let the driver set up their warning lights and block the lane before you move anywhere near the vehicle or the roadway.
If you broke down because of a more serious mechanical failure, like a [serpentine belt snapping at highway speed](/serpentine-belt-snapped-on-highway-tow-or-wait/) or a [fuel pump failure](/car-fuel-pump-went-out-highway-breakdown-cost/), do not attempt to restart the car or troubleshoot under the hood while you are on the shoulder.
## Is It Safe to Stand Outside the Car on a Busy Interstate?
Standing outside is generally safer than sitting inside, but your position matters enormously. The safest place is behind a guardrail or on an embankment, at least 30 feet back from your vehicle's rear bumper.
Never stand directly behind your car, even if you think oncoming traffic can see you clearly. If a driver rear-ends your vehicle, the force travels in the direction you are standing. This is how most secondary crash fatalities happen at breakdown scenes.
If the shoulder is too narrow to give you a safe standoff distance, and there is no barrier, staying in the vehicle with your seatbelt buckled may actually be the better call. In that case, stay in the right lane seat, unbuckle when the tow truck arrives and its driver has secured the scene, and exit fast on the passenger side.
Also check how long you legally have. State laws vary on how long a disabled vehicle can stay on a highway shoulder before it can be cited or towed by state police. [How Long Can You Leave a Broken Down Car on the Highway](/how-long-can-you-leave-broken-down-car-on-highway/) covers what those limits actually look like in practice.
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*Photo: Pexels*
## Common Questions
**Q: Should I call 911 or a tow company first when broken down on the highway?**
A: Call 911 first if you are in a dangerous position: no usable shoulder, a construction zone, or a high-speed blind curve. Otherwise, call your tow company or roadside assistance first and then notify 911 if you feel unsafe while waiting.
**Q: What if my hazard lights are not working after a breakdown?**
A: Set out reflective triangles or road flares immediately. If you have none, turn on your interior dome light at night and open all doors slightly so the door ajar lights activate. Then flag down a passing driver or call 911 and tell them your lights are out.
**Q: Is it dangerous to sit in my car on the highway shoulder with my seatbelt on?**
A: It is safer than standing beside the car in some situations, particularly narrow shoulders with fast traffic. Keep your seatbelt on, stay in a right-side seat, and watch your mirrors continuously. The moment the tow truck arrives and blocks traffic, get out on the passenger side.
**Q: Can I walk to the nearest exit to get help instead of waiting on the shoulder?**
A: Only as a last resort, and only if there is a paved path completely clear of traffic, like a wide gore area or a designated pedestrian path. Walking along a live highway shoulder is extremely dangerous. Waiting with your car and calling for help is almost always the safer option.
**Q: Does my insurance or roadside plan cover a highway breakdown tow, and do I have to pay anything upfront?**
A: Most roadside assistance plans, including AAA and insurer-provided plans from companies like Progressive and USAA, cover highway tows up to a mileage limit. You may owe the difference if the shop is farther than the plan's limit. Check your coverage before you call so you are not surprised at the scene.
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*Need roadside help? Visit [Tow With The Flow](https://towwiththeflow.com/how-to-stay-safe-waiting-for-tow-truck-on-highway/) for real answers when your car breaks down.*
How to Stay Safe Waiting for a Tow Truck on the Highway
Photo: Pexels