What to do and who to call when your car breaks down

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – Motor vehicle breakdowns – no make a difference in which they happen – can generate for a nerve-racking predicament. At times, even hazardous.

Realizing what to do and who to phone can make the approach a bit much more seamless.

“I arrive across a ton of assisted motorists. Folks that had flat tires, ran out of gas, perhaps have a mechanical problem. And if at all probable, we constantly test to transfer them over to the shoulder of the roadway,” stated South Carolina Highway Patrol spokesperson Mitchell Ridgeway.

He added that it is a basic safety difficulty.

“Even if you have bought a flat tire and you are driving on the rim, do not halt it in the center of the interstate,” Ridgeway instructed 7Information. “Make certain you have pulled off to the shoulder.”

Ridgeway extra that you should really pull off the proper facet of the highway, not in direction of the concrete barrier in the median.

He advised motorists get as significantly absent from interstate website traffic as feasible. When it is not doable, which is when you get in touch with *HP for assistance.

“If we occur out we’re heading to do regardless of what we have to have to do to enable you,” claimed Ridgeway. “I’ve modified way too a lot of tires to count all over my vocation on the road. We’re heading to established up our lights and give everybody a heads up that there’s an assisted motorist in advance.”

If Highway Patrol simply cannot enable you, that’s when they depend on the Condition Highway Emergency Program or SHEP.

“Every day is unique,” stated SHEP worker David Bryant. “No call’s the same but commonly altering tires, providing men and women gasoline, jumping the car off. We can transport men and women to the up coming exit, get you off the highway.”

You are going to see people today like Bryant in the huge blue vans patrolling our interstates.

Bryant advised 7 Information he pulls above for any car which is sitting down on the shoulder.

“Passenger automobiles, cars, vehicles, motorcycles, something, we halt with,” Bryant mentioned. “It could be somebody conversing on the cellphone, having lunch, taking a nap, or they could be getting a professional medical situation. Or their car’s broken down, flats, overheating. Anything at all we can do to get the roadway open up and retain individuals protected. That’s what we’re out right here for.”

Bryant’s crew alone patrols about 200 miles for every day along Interstate 85 from mile marker 19 in Anderson County to mile marker 83 in Spartanburg County.

They also patrol Interstate 385 from MM 23 to MM 42, Enterprise 85, and from the 16th to the 20th mile marker on Interstate 26.

Bryant claimed no matter what the condition, be vigilant on the roadways and be informed of on coming visitors.

“If you are on the shoulder, you can nevertheless get hit. It’s perilous out right here,” he discussed. “And our career is hazardous when we’re out there doing our work, it’s risky.”

Sometimes your breakdown may not be so hectic— and not so community. In that celebration, make contact with AAA or your services supplier.

“All you have to do is connect with 1-800-AAA-Aid or you can go on the net with AAA.com/enable. And then we also have a cellular application that’s pretty convenient where by you can get roadside support as effectively,” mentioned Tiffany Wright with AAA for the Carolinas.

Motorists are also reminded to shift about and gradual down if you see crews on the facet of the highway.