Sending your teen off in a car of his or her own can be terrifying for parents. Knowing the many possibilities of things that can happen at any given time strikes fear into the heart of every parent as they watch their teen drive away independently. One thing that many parents fail to do is educate the teen about what to do if the car should break down while being driven. Here, you will find out what you need to tell your teen about handling roadside emergencies safely.

Get off the Road

As soon as any issues with the car are noticed, it is time to get it off of the road and checked out. If the car is beginning to lose power, pull to the side of the road on the right-hand side. Emergency stops should never be made on the center median. Doing so puts drivers in both directions at risk, as well as your teen.

Make sure that your teen knows that even if the tire is completely flat, that it is OK to drive it a little further to get it off of the road completely.

Use Hazard Equipment and Lights

The second that the car begins to act up, turn on the hazard lights. This will tell other drivers that there is something going on and that they need to maintain a safe distance from the car.

Make sure that the trunk is loaded with the right roadside emergency equipment. Hazard triangles, flares and safety lights should be stocked and checked. Hazard triangles should be placed several feet behind the car to alert oncoming drivers of the disabled vehicle ahead. This is ultimately important when the car is located near a bend or knoll in the road.

If the weather conditions have limited visibility, flares should be placed several feet behind the car. This is the most obvious way to warn oncoming drivers that the car is ahead even in the worst conditions.

Towing Insurance and Information

Your son or daughter must know how to call for a tow and the information that the towing service will need to provide them with speedy service. Provide your teen with an information card that includes the name of the towing company you prefer to use in the area, the insurance information that will be needed and teach him or her how to identify their location along the road using mile markers and their surroundings.

Stay with the Car

Your teen should know to stay with the car if it is safe to do so. Don't stay inside the car, but stand behind the guiderail just in case an oncoming driver doesn't see the car and smashes into it.

Teaching your teen how to handle themselves during a roadside emergency will help decrease the chances of bad things happening and take quite a bit of stress out of the situation. For more information, contact auto services that specialize in roadside assistance, like Ragans Mac Auto Sales And Service.