The worst thing that happens to drivers is that their car breaks down in the middle of a road. As prevention is better than the cure, It's always important for car owners to carry out regular maintenance for their own car, and get prepared before an accident happens. Today, HoldCover will share some general guidelines to follow in the event of a breakdown occurring on a highway, in a tunnel or under bad weather conditions to help you minimise stress and maintain calm.
1. What to do when your car breaks down?
If your car breaks down, you should turn the hazard warning lights on immediately, and pull your car over to the far-left side of the road to a safe place such as hard shoulders, lay-bys or emergency area as possible. Switch off the engine after putting your car in park, leave the car safely, and call 999 for assistance. You can place a reflective red warning triangle behind your broken-down car on a road with a speed limit of 50 km/hr. Keep your pets in the car if they are travelling with you. Last but not least, don’t stand ahead/ behind or attempt to repair your broken-down car.
2. How to identify your car’s location?
It’s a must to note your location for the police and the emergency services. You can use the map apps on your cell to identify your location. If your car breaks down on a highway, there are some chainage markers installed along some routes and trunk roads providing position information, including the route number, travel direction and chainage along the route to help you locate yourself. Here’s an example:
Photo source: Transport Department
3. What to do if your car breaks down on the highway?
You must pull the car off the road with the hazard warning lights flashing continuously. Both driver and passengers should exit the car under safety conditions, and stay in a flat, safe place far away from the oncoming traffic and call 999 for help. Hard shoulders for emergency use can be found on highways, there is always a traffic sign at the beginning of a hard shoulder with a thick solid white line marking the edge.
Photo source: Transport Department
4. What to do if your car breaks down inside a tunnel?
The engine must be switched off and the hazard warning lights must be turned on. You should stay in the car and have your seat belt buckled, then call the police immediately for help. Follow the tunnel officers’ instructions, if any. If there is smoke coming out or in the event of a fire, all persons involved should exit the car, walk away from the direction of smoke to a safe location and wait for help.
5. How to handle a roadside breakdown under bad weather conditions?
Undoubtedly, severe weather conditions such as typhoons and rain have a significant impact on roadways such as reduced visibility. If a breakdown occurs, as always, turn the hazard lights on and pull the car over to a safe place. Exit the car safely and call the police. You should also keep a raincoat and an umbrella with colors that stand out in the rain in your car to alert other drivers on the road.
Car Insurance Q&A: Can weather affect your car accident claim?
If a driver is aware that roadways are not suitable for driving when extreme weather conditions such as typhoons, rain and landslides come into play, but still insists on getting behind the wheel and a car accident is caused, unless he/she can provide a reasonable purpose of driving such as requiring urgent medical treatment, otherwise the relevant car accident claim may be rejected, or the compensation may be reduced by the insurance company. Please note that the actual situation depends on the individual circumstances of each case.
6. Consider an insurance plan with 24-Hour roadside assistance services
Some insurance companies will provide 24-Hour assistance service, including:
- 24-Hour Emergency Roadside Repair Assistance (such as battery boarding or tyre replacement)
- 24-Hour Towing Service
The benefits mentioned above may be adjusted under different circumstances, terms and conditions
There are tons of car insurance products available on the market. With HoldCover’s one-stop insurance online platform, you don’t have to spend a lot of time getting quotes from different insurers anymore. Whether you are looking for third party or comprehensive car insurance, you can get instant quotes, compare policies and buy the one that fits you best on HoldCover as we offer a wide range of car insurance products.
Reference: Transport Department, GovHK
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