Helpful Tips for Roadside Emergencies in the UAE
- Tips for roadside emergency
- Roadside assistance contact numbers
- Dealing with common roadside emergencies
- How to avoid roadside emergencies
A flat tyre, dead battery, empty fuel tank and engine breakdown are a just few examples of roadside emergencies anyone can face anytime. Whether it’s the afternoon sun gazing down on your head or a cold dark night far away from home, the plight can leave you rattled. However, it isn’t a situation you can not get out of, especially in the UAE, where the government is always ahead in ensuring drivers’ safety. You just need to act smartly without letting the situation unnerve you.
Today, we will share some useful tips for roadside emergencies that can help you deal with such unexpected situations in the safest and most efficient manner.
Practicing Safety– Important Tips For Roadside Emergency
When you face a roadside emergency – an accident or a mechanical fault, it is important to make sure the traffic keeps moving. Your priority should be to avoid a traffic jam or another accident. The next concern should be fixing the vehicle to get it started.
The following tips for roadside emergency can help you handle the situation until roadside assistance arrives.
Stay Calm
There is no need to panic. As long as you can steer the vehicle as needed, the situation remains in your control. It might make a difference to know that in case of vehicle breakdown leading to towing, many cars require battery boosting, run into mechanical problems or suffer radiator leakage. Keep calm and know that the problem may not be as complicated as it seems.
Take Immediate Action
Whatever the emergency, keep control of your vehicle and try to act immediately. As soon as you notice your vehicle creating trouble, pullover or start moving to the right-hand side of the road so that the oncoming traffic isn’t blocked and your vehicle doesn’t get hit by another vehicle on the road.
Let Others Know
During the night on highways or high-traffic roads, a non-moving vehicle can cause potential harm to other cars. In a roadside emergency, besides moving gradually towards the hard shoulder, you must exercise extra caution by turning on the hazard lights.
If possible, make sure you keep safety signs, cones, triangles, or flares in your vehicle to increase visibility in such cases. You can place a warning triangle behind your vehicle, at least 45 meters away on the road. Consider popping up the hood of the car to show your car has broken down.
Emergency Supplies
Depending on where you are, roadside emergencies might take some time to resolve. Another safety precaution in such events is to keep extra food, water, and a first aid kit. Importantly, keep a roadside emergency kit in the dashboard so that you can try fixing the car in case it needs a minor repair like a jump start
Roadside Assistance
You must know when to request for roadside assistance. If you can gauge that the problem can be fixed, try using your mechanical knowledge to get the vehicle running. However, there are situations the most expert drivers are unable to tackle. That’s where you call for professional roadside assistance.
Roadside Assistance Contacts in the UAE
In most cases, you can call 999 and request roadside emergency assistance. However, there are other ways to get professional help.
The auto insurance plans by top car insurance companies cover roadside assistance. Hence, you will have a roadside emergency contact number provided by the insurance company. Save that number on your phone.
Aside from that, there are many roadside assistance providers in the UAE. Keep their roadside emergency number on your mobile to contact in case of need. Here are a few of the known options you may consider:
- Autotrust UAE provides 24/7 roadside assistance in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Contact: 050-2100-350
- Trac UAE is also available 24/7 for roadside assistance in Dubai.
Contact: 0971-8004565
- PitStopArabia provides round-the-clock roadside assistance across the UAE.
Contact: 0971-4432-7676
Besides, you can call the official dealership of your vehicle on their toll-free number for roadside assistance.
Common Roadside Emergencies and How to Deal With Them
It is good to learn a few tips on how to resolve common roadside emergencies even if you aren’t savvy with the mechanical repairs and fixes.
Flat Tyres
Hot temperatures and poorly maintained tyres is a recipe for disaster. However, there are ways to handle tyre burst, here is how you can change flat tyre:
- Keep a jack, spare tyre, lug wrench, brick or tyre stop, and gloves in your car to replace a flat tyre on the road.
- Using the brick or tyre stop on the good tyre, immobilise your car so that it doesn’t rollover.
- Loosen the lug nuts on the flat tyre using a lug wrench, only until it doesn’t come off.
- Using the jack, lift your vehicle high enough to remove and replace the tyre.
- Remove the lug nut completely from the flat tyre and replace it with the spare tyre.
- Tighten the lug nuts on alternating sides like a star pattern.
- Remove the jack and give a few final tightening turns to the lug nuts.
Smoking Engine
An overheated engine is another frequent problem as the hot climate of the UAE can burn up the engine of your vehicle, leaving you in a tough spot. Here is what you can do to resolve the issue in most cases:
- Keep antifreeze and coolant in your vehicle, along with engine oil.
- When you see smoke out of the hood, pull over and let the engine cool down.
- Check the oil level using a dipstick. If it’s low, refill.
- Check the reservoir of coolant located next to the radiator.
- In case of a leak, wait for help instead of starting the engine.
Empty Fuel Tank
Either keep a spare fuel bottle in the vehicle or park your vehicle and walk to the nearest fuel station. Call for roadside assistance if the situation demands. You can also contact any of the fuel delivery services in the UAE,if you are in the Emirates.
How to Avoid Roadside Emergency
You can avoid roadside emergencies to a certain extent by regular service and maintenance of your vehicle. Here are a few maintenance tips that may help avoid frequent breakdowns:
- Always replace parts with original ones even if you buy used parts. You can find auto accessories and parts in Dubai online.
- Get your brake discs, brake fluids and brake pads checked by a professional expert.
- Clean AC filters regularly.
- Check gas in the AC compressor.
- Check the engine oil level, battery coolant and radiator coolant fluid level.
- Never leave the house without checking the fuel level.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Roadside Assistance?
Roadside assistance is a service that can get you out of a roadside emergency. Roadside assistance service may include battery replacements, tyre change, jump start, fuel delivery, towing, collision recovery and others.
Does my Insurance Company Offer Roadside Assistance?
It’s an add-on offered by many insurance companies. You may or may not choose roadside assistance in your coverage.
How to call for roadside assistance in Dubai?
You can dial 999 and call Dubai Police for roadside assistance. You can also check if your auto insurance includes this service.
Roadside emergencies can be extremely inconvenient, especially on long road trips or when you are in the middle of a highway. We hope these useful tips for roadside emergencies will help you avoid such situations or get out of them as soon as possible. However, if you keep finding yourself in such a situation because your car is no longer in good condition, you can find used cars for sale in better condition.
Stay tuned to UAE’s popular auto blog for more tips as well as auto parts repair, replacement and maintenance guides.