When your child breaks down on the side of the road on their own, it can be a very scary experience. There are many teens who think that they are ready for such an experience, when in actuality they are not. The following guide walks you through a few things to do to properly prepare for your teen breaking down on the side of the road.
Prepare for the Event Before Your Child Ever Gets in the Car
It is best for you to take the time to prepare for your child to be in an emergency situation when they start driving before they ever get into the car. Create a contract with a roadside towing company so that your child can get the help that they need when they need it. Stock the car with an emergency kit within the trunk of the car so that your child can properly alert other drivers that their car is broken down.
Walk Your Teen Through the Steps to Take When They Break Down
An emergency kit will be of no good to your child if he or she does not know how to use it. It is best to walk your child through the steps to take if their car breaks down before they go out on their own. Tell them to pull the car over to the side of the road as much as they can and show them how to use road flares. It is important to walk them through the process for placing the flares where they need to go behind the car so that they can give other drivers ample warning that their car is broken down.
Call the Roadside Assistance Company Yourself When an Event Occurs
There is a good chance that your child will be very overwhelmed and scared when their car breaks down. They may not be able to give the roadside assistance company that information that is needed to be able to help them. Have a location finder installed on your child's phone so that they can tell you the exact coordinates for where they are located if they break down. This ensures that there is no confusion as to what street they are on. Contact the company and give them the coordinates so that the driver can get to your child as soon as possible.
It is best for you to meet your child and the driver at the mechanic's shop where the car is towed to. This will ensure that your child is able to have a ride home and allows you to look at the car to see if something minor is wrong with it. Teens sometimes run out of gas because they are not paying attention when driving and adding a bit of gas to the car may get it up and running again.
