Earlier this week an early morning accident claimed the life of an innocent person that was trying to change a tire on the PA Turnpike. The motorist was pulled off to the side of the roadway changing the tire when struck by an oncoming vehicle.
Unfortunately, over the 12 years that I have been covering traffic conditions in Central Pennsylvania I have had to report on several similar incidents involving people that wind up either injured or killed while they attend to their broken down vehicle.
Some things to keep in mind before you call for roadside assistance:
- As soon as your vehicle breaks down or you are in an accident put on your 4 way hazard lights
- Move your vehicle to an area as far away from oncoming traffic as possible
- If you break down at night, try to find a well lit area
It’s worth noting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Triple A both recommend that all drivers equip their cars with an accident safety kit.
A kit is relatively cheap and simple to assemble, here are the recommended items:
- flares
- orange cones or an orange triangle
- roadside reflectors
- flashlight
- reflective vest
In addition, keep a few other items in your kit that will be of specific help to you if you are in an accident:
- First aid kit
- Paper and pen
- Measuring tape
- Disposable camera
Overall, the big key is that you do everything you can to help yourself be seen by other drivers.
Please feel free to email me with any questions at: steveknight@cbs21.com
