How to Stay Safe While Waiting for a Tow
The minutes between your call and the tow truck arriving are when most roadside risk happens. Here is how to stay safe while you wait, wherever you are stranded.
Once you have called for a tow, the job is not quite done — how you wait matters just as much. Most roadside danger happens in the minutes between the breakdown and the truck's arrival. These habits keep you safe wherever you are stranded.
Position your vehicle for safety
If your vehicle is still drivable, get it as far off the road as possible: onto the shoulder, into a parking lot, or down a nearby exit. A flat, straight, well-lit spot is far better than a curve or a hill where other drivers cannot see you until the last second.
Then:
- Turn on your hazard lights and leave them on.
- Turn your wheels away from traffic if you are on an incline.
- Set out reflective triangles or flares behind the vehicle if you have them and it is safe.
Know when to stay in and when to get out
There is no single right answer — it depends on where you are.
- On a busy highway with a narrow shoulder, exiting on the side away from traffic and moving behind a barrier is usually safest. A stopped vehicle can be struck; you do not want to be in it.
- In a parking lot or on a quiet street, staying in your locked vehicle is generally fine and keeps you out of the weather.
Keep your seatbelt on if you remain in the vehicle. Collisions can happen even when you are parked.
Make yourself and your vehicle visible
Visibility saves lives at the roadside. Beyond hazard lights, at night you can turn on the dome light briefly so approaching drivers register your presence. If you keep a small emergency kit in the car, a reflective vest is worth its space.
Stay warm, stay aware — especially in Colorado
Our weather turns quickly. If it is cold, run the engine occasionally for heat, but only if the exhaust pipe is clear of snow to avoid carbon monoxide buildup. Keep a blanket in the car during winter. In summer heat, stay hydrated and get into shade if you have left the vehicle.
Stay off the roadway, keep an eye on approaching traffic, and do not stand between your vehicle and oncoming cars.
Keep your phone handy and your details ready
Stay reachable in case the driver needs to confirm your location. Have your location landmark, vehicle details, and destination ready so everything moves quickly when we arrive.
If anything about your situation changes — you feel unsafe, the weather worsens, or your location shifts — call us back at 303-841-9161. We would rather hear from you than have you wait and worry.
