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If you find yourself on the side of the road with a vehicle that won't start, stay calm and follow a logical progression to move your vehicle safely off the road. Try to park your disabled vehicle where it is visible for at least 200 feet in each direction. Turn on your emergency flashers to indicate that your vehicle is stopped at the side of the road.

Be careful when you exit the vehicle and walk to the passenger side of the car. As a precautionary measure, tie a white cloth to the left door handle or antenna and raise the hood to indicate that your vehicle is disabled.

Be Prepared with a Vehicle Emergency Kit

Your emergency kit's contents will depend on where you live and drive, but at a minimum, a basic roadside safety emergency kit should contain:

• Jumper cables (the longer and more heavy-duty, the better)
• Two 30-minute flares
• A reflective triangle
• A "Help" sign or white cloth to tie to the antennae
• A flashlight with extra batteries (small LED flashlights are tiny, long lasting, and surprisingly bright)
• A small tool kit including screwdrivers, pliers, needle-nose/wire cutters, and a small knife
• Two quarts of oil, a gallon of water and a gallon of windshield washer fluid