Quick Answer: Get off the travel lanes immediately, that’s the only priority. Signal right, slow down, and coast to the shoulder or an exit. Turn on hazards the moment something feels wrong, before you even know what it is. Once stopped, stay in your car with your seatbelt on unless there’s fire or smoke. A car on the shoulder gets hit by other vehicles more often than most people realize.
What To Do
Turn on your hazard lights immediately. Do this as soon as you feel something wrong, before diagnosing, before calling anyone. Other drivers need warning time at highway speeds.
Steer to the right shoulder. If you can make an exit, take it, you want off the highway entirely. If not, aim for the right shoulder, as far from traffic as possible. Even on flat tires, it’s better to ruin a rim than stop in a travel lane.
Stop as far right as you can. Pull past the solid white line. If there’s a guardrail, stop 6–12 inches from it. Every foot of distance from traffic matters.
Stay in your car with your seatbelt on. This is counterintuitive but correct. A car on the shoulder is more visible than a person standing beside it. The seatbelt protects you if another vehicle strikes yours. Exit only if you smell smoke or see fire.
If you must exit, get far away from the car. Exit from the passenger side (away from traffic), climb over the guardrail if there is one, and move up a slope or behind a barrier. Do not stand between your car and traffic.
Call 911 first if you’re in a dangerous position. If you’re on a lane, partially blocking traffic, or on a curve with limited visibility, call 911 before calling a tow. Give your exact location: highway number, direction of travel, nearest mile marker or exit number.
Then call a tow or roadside assistance. Give them the same location information. Note that on major highways, some states have free roving assistance patrols, if a service truck pulls up, let them help.
Signal clearly that you need help. Tie a white cloth or white bag to the driver’s side door handle or antenna, it signals distress to passing police.
What It Might Cost
| Service | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Highway tow (5–15 miles) | $100–$250 |
| After-hours or weekend surcharge | Add $25–$75 |
| Flatbed (required for many vehicles) | Add $50–$100 |
| AAA or roadside assistance coverage | Varies; often free per incident |
Stay Safe
Highway shoulders are not safe. Studies show that vehicles break down on the shoulder get struck by passing traffic at a significant rate, especially at night or in bad weather. The safest position is inside your car, seatbelt on, positioned as far from traffic as possible, waiting for professional help.
Turn off your dome light at night so approaching drivers can see your hazards better. Keep the hazard lights running, most cars can run hazards for 1–2 hours before affecting the battery enough to cause a starting problem, so don’t turn them off to “save the battery.”