Anyone who drives I-4 through Orlando knows how fast it goes from busy to bumper-to-bumper. When your car starts to shake, overheat or lose power in that traffic, it is easy to panic. The good news: a few calm steps, in the right order, keep you safe and get help to you faster. Here is what to do, whether you're on I-4, the 408, the 429 or a busy road like Colonial Drive.
Step 1: Get out of the travel lanes if you can
The moment something feels wrong, turn on your hazard lights and start moving right. If the car still rolls, aim for the right shoulder, an exit ramp, or a parking lot just off the exit. A wide shoulder or a gas station is much safer than a narrow shoulder next to fast traffic.
If you have a choice, keep going a little farther to a better spot rather than stopping in the first gap you see. Avoid stopping on a curve, just over a hill, in a construction zone with no shoulder, or right at the merge of an on-ramp, where other drivers have less time to see you.
Once you stop, turn the wheels away from traffic, put the car in park, and set the parking brake.
Step 2: Decide where you are safest
There is no single rule for every situation, so use your judgment:
- If you are on a wide shoulder and can get out on the side away from traffic, standing well behind a guardrail or up the grass, away from the car, is often safer than sitting inside it.
- If you cannot get out safely (traffic on both sides, no barrier, a narrow bridge), stay in the car with your seatbelt on and the hazards flashing.
- If your car is stuck in a live lane and you cannot move it, call 911 first. That is a traffic hazard, and you need the road made safe before a tow truck can work.
Never stand between your car and traffic, and never try to push the car across lanes.
Step 3: Pin down your exact location
This is the step that saves the most time. "I'm on I-4 near downtown" can mean miles of road in two directions. Before you call, look for:
- The direction you were driving (eastbound or westbound on I-4, for example).
- The last exit you passed, or the next exit sign ahead.
- The small green mile marker signs on the shoulder.
- Landmarks: an overpass name, a stadium, a hotel, a big store sign.
- Your phone's map: open it, drop a pin, and you can share or read out the exact spot.
If you're in a parking garage, note the garage name, level and row. If you're at a theme park or resort lot, note the lot name and section.
Step 4: Call, and have these answers ready
When you call (888) 207-3718, we will ask a few quick questions. Having the answers ready gets the right truck rolling sooner:
- Where you are (everything from Step 3).
- Your vehicle: year, make, model and color.
- Is it all-wheel-drive, electric, lowered, or a high-end or classic car? These ride on a flatbed.
- What happened: won't start, overheated, flat tire, accident, stuck.
- Does it roll and steer? Will it go into neutral? Do you have the keys?
- Where you want it to go: your home, your mechanic, a dealership. Have the address.
- How many people are with you, and whether anyone needs a ride.
Step 5: While you wait
- Keep your hazards on. At night, leave the interior lights off so you don't blind yourself to the road, but keep your phone charged and nearby.
- Florida heat is serious. If the engine overheated, don't run it to keep the AC on. Get out of the sun if you can do it safely, and drink water. Never leave kids or pets in a parked car, even for a few minutes.
- Don't open the hood of an overheated engine or touch the radiator cap. Coolant can be under pressure and very hot.
- Take a few photos of the car and where it stopped. They help later if you need them for insurance or your mechanic.
- If a stranger stops and offers help or a tow you didn't call for, it's fine to say "Thanks, my tow is already on the way."
Step 6: When the tow truck arrives
Make sure it's the company you called. Ask the driver what company they're with and confirm your name and destination. Our truck is a dark maroon flatbed with "Deanna's Towing" and our USDOT number on the door. Grab your phone, wallet, garage remote, sunglasses, chargers and anything you need from the car before it goes on the truck.
