Month: December 2019

When your car breaks down on the road there are obvious risks, with the potential dangers increasing as the traffic increases and the road becomes bigger – breaking down on the highway would be the worst nightmare for anyone!

However, breakdowns are normal if you own a vehicle, and there is always a possibility that it can happen to you or any driver at any time. Should this happen, you may require to get the vehicle towed so that it can be fixed, and then you can drive home!

Reacting appropriately in case of a vehicle breakdown is not that easy, especially if it is your first time, so it is critical to know where to steer your car to. By doing this you can safely contact and wait for your towing service to arrive!

The Right Shoulder

The standard practice for any road user on a highway whose vehicle breaks down is to move as far as possible on the right shoulder.

Once you get to the farthest point you can on your right shoulder, stay in your car and call your local tow service or motorist club, and wait for them to show up.

Stay Where You Are

This may not be the most convenient situation to be in while waiting for a tow after your vehicle malfunctions. If you are unable to coast your car safely to the right of the road, just remain at your spot.

Turn on your hazard indicator but AVOID leaving the vehicle at all, this will only increase the amount of danger you are in.

Off the Road

On less busy roads, you are capable of moving off the road, or in some cases as far as you can from the shoulder. Since the roads here have very few vehicles, you might be able to navigate your car away from the road to the farthest point possible.

Then get in touch with a towing professional service. Here’s a number to call.

1. The Traditional Manual Way

If the car locks are operated by small buttons on the window ledge, you can utilize a straightened coat hanger to open the car door. Create a small hook on one side and direct the straightened hanger into the rubber that covers the window’s side. Then after you hit the door button, hook it with the hanger and pull upwards.

2. Through the Trunk

In some vehicles, you can access the car through the trunk by moving the back seats. This can be an option to unlock the car if you have easy access to the car’s trunk. It is also recommended that you have your car spare key hidden safely in the trunk.

3. Seek Professional Technicians, like a Tow Company

You will require to engage an emergency lockout service if your car has locks that are set back into the door handle. Your only option is to contact a professional, for instance, a towing company that provides lockout services since a majority of the time using a wire hanger or screwdriver can cause additional damage or injury.

4. Buy a New Remote Opener

Many new cars have electronic door openers or digital keys that do not permit the driver to lock the doors when the keys are inside the vehicle. But, this can be a problem since misplacing the gadget means seeking replacement which will cost a lot and take some days.

5. Look for the Override Switch

If you have an electronic door opener, you can still be able to open the car, but if it is misplaced outside the vehicle, your ignition may fail to work in its absence. Some vehicles have override switches for such instances so confirm if you can start the vehicle in the absence of the opener by checking the override switch – if one exists.

You may need to enlist a professional tow company if your keys are locked up and your car is in an area where you can be fined. Call us as soon as you need to

When your car breaks down you need to do a few things to keep safe. Some of these things are listed below.

1. Get To The Side Of The Road

Your first priority has to be getting to the side of the road. Even if this means pushing the car, do not stay in the direct line of traffic. More specifically, try to move to the shoulder of the road while the car is still moving. And only when safe to do so and without causing an accident.

2. Inform Other Drivers

In order to avoid a potential accident, make a point to put on the hazards of the car. The hazards will communicate that the car is stationary and you are having problems.

3. Only Exit Car When Safe

If you want to inspect what is wrong with the car, it means you have to get out. But do not put yourself in danger to do the check. For example, when there is oncoming traffic at fast speeds, it is best to stay put until the traffic has passed.

4. Use Extra Precaution

In addition to putting on the hazards, you can use emergency traffic signs and flares to help give other drivers a fair warning. These are especially helpful if the weather conditions are bad, such as driving in misty or foggy conditions. Because there is a good chance your hazards will not be enough.

5. Call For Help

Most people are not able to fix their cars when they break down in the middle of nowhere. Hence the reason for calling professionals to drive out and help you.

6. Keep An Emergency Kit

It is always recommended to keep an emergency kit in the car, just in case you have to wait for help to arrive. The kit should include things like water, blankets, flashlights, and snacks that won’t easily get spoiled if possible. It is important to stay safe and be prepared.

Have Leahy’s Towing be your backup. Keep our contact close, in case you need a professional towing service

1. Check The Wear Indicators

Modern tires come equipped with wear indicators. These small pieces of rubber stick out from between the tread. If any of the wear indicators are missing, it may be a sign that your tires need to be replaced.

Another thing to look at is the condition of the tread. The tread is located on the portion of the tire that contacts the surface of the road. The grooves in the tread funnel any water on the roadway away from the tires so that they make better contact with the surface, leading to better traction. If the tread is worn out, the grooves may not be deep enough to effectively move the water, increasing the likelihood of accidents. To prevent any problems, you should replace tires that have worn out tread right away.

2. Make Sure The Tread Is Worn Evenly

Unevenly worn tread is usually a sign of improperly aligned tires. In cases like these, certain parts of the tires contact the road more than others, causing them to wear out more quickly. Tires with uneven wear can create a lot of extra noise when driving down the road. They also may make the vehicle feel like it is shaking when you are driving it.

3. Regularly Check The Tire Pressure

The air pressure inside of the tires should remain relatively consistent as long as there are no leaks. Periodically check the tire pressure to make sure that it is not falling. If you notice any changes in the pressure, it could be a sign that the tire has a leak and needs to be replaced.

4. Bulging Or Signs Of Bubbles

Tires sometimes develop weak spots, which can result in bulging or bubbling. If you keep driving on a tire that has bulges, there is a high likelihood that you will experience a blowout, which can be quite dangerous. Any tires with bubbles or bulges should be replaced right away.

Leahy’s Towing has the tools to help you with your tire and towing needs. Reach out to us with a call to find out more before you next need a tow.

1. See If Your Credit Card Company Offers Roadside Assistance

Today, a lot of credit card companies provide roadside assistance services as a special perk for their customers. Depending on the terms of your credit card, you may have this service available, which could save you a lot of money on the cost of towing.

2. Add Towing Services To Your Insurance Policy

When purchasing car insurance, consider adding towing or roadside assistance to your package. Usually, the cost of adding these extra services is relatively low. Try checking with your insurance company to see how much it would cost for the type of vehicle you have and the city where you are located.

3. Do Research Ahead Of Time

The best time to research towing companies is before you need their services. Instead of being forced to choose a towing company at random, do some research ahead of time to figure out which companies in your area offer the best rates. Then, keep the phone number for your preferred towing service in your glove box so that you always have it available if you break down.

4. Become An Auto Club Member

Joining an auto club gives you access to a lot of different benefits. These benefits usually include coverage for breakdown services. Although most clubs like these do have membership fees, the cost of joining is usually lower than what you would pay to have your vehicle towed. For many people, it is a worthwhile investment since it means that they have emergency services available if they need them.

AAA is one of the best-known auto clubs that provides towing for its members. The cost can vary quite a bit, however, based on your location.

Joining an auto club usually costs anywhere from about $50-$100 per year. When you consider how much cheaper that is than the cost of towing, your membership fees could easily pay for themselves if your vehicle breaks down.

If you have a breakdown or need a tow before you implement any of these, try Leahy’s Towing. They are a professional towing service that is only a call away.

5 Tips For Driving Safely In The Rain

1. Slow down

The first thing that you need to remember to do when it is raining out is to watch the road conditions carefully. Rain makes roads wet, and that can ultimately lead to roads that are slick and unsafe. If you are driving in these road conditions, you should reduce your speed.

2. Use the right lights

Another big problem when trying to drive in the rain is visibility. So if you are driving in wet weather, we recommend that you play around with different lights in your car. Using your fog lights will provide you with the best visibility in some conditions, while you might want to use your high beams in other conditions to see the road and coming surroundings as clearly as you can.

3. Make wide turns as slowly as you can

As you are approaching and performing a turn, you should slow down. That will reduce the risk of your vehicle sliding as you are turning.

4. Windshield wipers and rain repellent

If you are getting ready to drive in the rain, prepare your vehicle ahead of time. If a rain-repellent is used on your windshield that can help to eliminate the rain from view. It is also important that your windshield wiper fluid is full in order to clear away any dirt that wet road conditions might cause.

5. Know when it is time to pull over

Although driving in a regular rainstorm might not be very had for you to do, it can be if there is a violent storm taking place. If you think that your visibility or the road conditions are too poor, you should pull over to the side of the road. That can prevent a possible accident just by knowing when you should pull over when it is raining. And should an accident happen or you require towing services, Leahy’s Towing is just a call away.

4 Reasons Why Your Car Might Get Towed Away

1) Parking Illegally: If you park your vehicle without a proper permit in an ambulance parking space, a handicap spot, in front of a fire hydrant, or other tow-away places, then your vehicle can get towed away legally even without you providing authorization. Many major cities are having trouble offering sufficient parking space for local citizens. Those living in big places like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York are already frustratingly familiar with the arduous and time-consuming task that is hunting for any parking spot.

2) Expired Registration: Never wait for your vehicle’s registration to expire. Otherwise, you might be paying a visit to your local impound station in the near future. When local authorities like law enforcement and DMV personnel discover that your car registration is expired, they might have the legal right to tow your vehicle, again, without you providing permission. Before you can retrieve your vehicle, you might have to offer proof of your renewed registration.

3) Roadway Or Walkway Obstruction: If you park your vehicle in a way that blocks the entrance or driveway to a home or business, and then you come back out and can’t find your car in that same parking spot, you can probably safely assume it was towed away because you blocked traffic.

4) Unlicensed Driving: If you are stopped by a police cruiser and they discover that you either don’t have a driver’s license or it expired, then they’re probably going to have a tow truck report to that spot. It’s illegal to drive unless you have a valid license, and even having an expired license won’t count.

5) Disabled Vehicle: If police pull you over and they think your car isn’t currently in a safe condition for driving, then they can have it towed right then and there.

Need a reliable towing service? There is no time like now to contact your friendly towers at Leahy’s Towing.