Image: Ou.edu

This information may come just in time for a road trip you may be taking… good to have this info handy! The other night Fred, Charlie and I were taking our after dinner walk around the neighborhood… we stopped and spoke to a couple who had just pulled in from a trip they had made. Their car had a blow out. They were on the Interstate. Thankfully he handled things well and they were OK, but the tire was blown out. Boo… interstate and a bad tire is a horrible combination, especially with the text-instead-of-look-where-you’re-going-era we’re in… As luck would have it the Highway Patrol pulled up right behind them, they had the tire changed and the couple was on their way within 15 minutes! The Highway Patrol told them any time you break down (or see someone who has) to call them *HP (*47) for South Carolina. Every state is different, so here is a handy dandy chart that I got from the University of Oklahoma Police Department website (click the link to read, they also have an expanded chart state by state for all details). Here’s a blip from their site:

Talking on your cellphone while you drive can certainly lead to distraction and accidents — but having a cellphone in your car can be very useful in an emergency situation. 

In almost any state, you may dial 911 for emergencies, but due to the high volume of calls that 911 operators receive, in some cases it might be better to use the phone numbers listed below, particularly to report highway-safety related “non-emergencies.” If you have difficulty reaching these numbers, you can always dial “0” to request help.

Some states have special cellphone-only numbers such as *SP (star 77)for State Police or *HP (star 47) for Highway Patrol, to report highway/vehicle related problems. You should use the numbers, below, only to report vehicle breakdowns/problems, accidents, hazardous material spills, or other highway hazards/problems, as well as impaired or aggressive/reckless drivers and other criminal behavior.

Use cellphones safely — be aware of laws which prohibit using cellphones while driving.

While we work to keep this list current, at any point in time, some of the listings (below) may be out of date. Before you travel, as part of your travel/itinerary planning, we’d urge you to check with the state public safety departments (or their websites) on your planned route for updated/current cellphone contact listings.

If you’re wondering to yourself “what do I do if I get a blowout”?? I found  HOW TO HANDLE A TIRE BLOWOUT from Howcast. Click the link to see the video… I hope you never need this, but if a blowout is ever in your future, at least you’ll know how to react… Here’s the information from their link (above):

1. Stay cool

   Ignore your natural instinct to hit the brakes or jerk the steering wheel when you have a blowout.

2. Step 2

   Accelerate slightly

   Accelerate slightly to maintain control of the vehicle. Keep going straight.

3. Tip

   Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands at 10 o’clock and two o’clock on the wheel to avoid losing control.

4. Step 3

   Decelerate

   Ease off the accelerator slowly.

5. Step 4

   Coast

   Maintain your course while the vehicle slows.

6. Step 5

   Apply brakes

   Apply the brakes gently when your car slows to 30 miles per hour.

7. Step 6

   Turn on right turn signal

   Turn on your right turn signal.

8. Tip

   Never stop on the left side of the road, if possible. This is the most dangerous place to be.

Drive safely… pay attention… be prepared for the unimaginable, stay calm and call the cell highway emergency number if you or someone you see needs assistance! Catch you back here tomorrow!