If your car breaks down on a highway, you should:
Sit in your car and wait for help.
Use your four-way flashers to warn other drivers.
Sound your horn at passing motorists.
Flash your headlights at oncoming traffic.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is: Use your four-way flashers to warn other drivers.
Explanation:
When a car breaks down on a highway, safety is the top priority. Highways are high-speed environments, and a stationary vehicle poses significant risks to both you and other road users. Here’s a detailed explanation of why using your four-way flashers is the correct action:
- Visibility to Other Drivers
Turning on your four-way flashers (hazard lights) immediately alerts other drivers that your vehicle is stationary or experiencing issues. This is crucial, as it allows them to spot your vehicle from a distance and adjust their speed or position accordingly to avoid a collision. - Prevention of Secondary Accidents
A broken-down vehicle can cause a chain reaction of accidents, especially on busy highways. The flashers reduce this risk by clearly signaling your situation to other road users, ensuring they have enough time to respond safely. - Legal and Recommended Practice
In most jurisdictions, using hazard lights during a breakdown is a legal requirement or a strongly recommended safety measure. It’s a universally understood signal that indicates distress or an emergency. - Why Not the Other Options?
- Sit in your car and wait for help: While staying in your car might protect you from external dangers, it does nothing to warn other drivers. Additionally, you should exit and move to a safe area if the vehicle is in a dangerous position.
- Sound your horn at passing motorists: This is ineffective and can confuse or startle other drivers.
- Flash your headlights at oncoming traffic: Oncoming traffic may not recognize this as a distress signal, and it won’t help with vehicles approaching from behind.
In summary, using your four-way flashers immediately improves safety by enhancing visibility, reducing risks, and following best practices during a highway breakdown.