WASHINGTON, D. C. (Tuesday, June 27, 2017) –So far this year at least three persons have been killed on interstates in Virginia while standing next to their vehicles on the side of the roadway, including two persons in recent days in  Northern Virginia. One crash involved a pick-up truck “towing a boat and a box truck in the southbound lanes I-395 to I-495 in Fairfax County.” The men were outside their vehicle working on securing the boat when they were struck. On Monday morning, a woman was killed after she exited her vehicle on the Inner Loop of the Capital Beltway in Northern Virginia.

Each year around 610 persons are killed and thousands more are maimed or severely injured while they are standing on the shoulder of interstates across the United States. Although a shoulder is deemed an emergency stopping lane by the edge of the roadway, drivers and vehicle occupants  are often  killed while changing a flat on the shoulder or after the vehicle they were riding in becomes disabled or breaks down.

What should you do if your vehicle loses power or becomes inoperable? Do not risk your personal safety. It is almost inevitable that at some point, you’ll have trouble with your vehicle. Each year, millions of motorists encounter such difficulties. How well you deal with vehicle trouble can have a direct bearing on your personal safety, advises AAA Mid-Atlantic.  The most hazardous place to break down is a road with no shoulder. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that 12% of all interstate highway deaths result from shoulder accidents.

 “If you get out of your vehicle, proceed carefully and watching for oncoming traffic, especially  in heavy traffic, at night, or in bad weather, when visibility is limited,” said John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs.” Never stand behind or directly in front of your vehicle. Other roadway users may have trouble seeing you, and you could be struck by another vehicle.”

If you must pull over along the side of the interstate, AAA Mid-Atlantic recommends:

Get to the Safest Place Possible      

• Pull off the road as far as possible while remaining on level ground.
• If you cannot pull off the road as your vehicle is inoperable, switch on safety/emergency flashers. Do not risk personal injury by attempting to push it to a safe location. If you cannot get your vehicle to a location away from traffic or if you are uncertain about your safety and think your vehicle may be struck from behind, do not stay in your vehicle.
• Consider “limping” to a close exit to get completely off of the highway, even if it means bending your rim in the event of a flat tire.
• Determine the SAFEST place to remain until the situation is resolved. Under most circumstances and if you are able to pull away from traffic, it is safest to remain in your vehicle with the doors locked and the windows almost closed. Don’t leave the engine on for extended periods to heat or cool the vehicle as you risk carbon monoxide poisoning.
• If circumstances favor exiting the vehicle, do so from the left side (or side away from the flow of traffic) and move as far away from the vehicle as possible. Women traveling alone should consider their surroundings carefully and make the best decision as to where to wait for help.

Call for HELP

• Call for help - Emergency responders have the advantage of flashing lights and reflective vests and can position their vehicle in a way to help to protect everyone while the repair is being made.
• If you determine help is within safe walking distance, place a note on the dashboard listing where you are going for help and the time you left.

Visibility is KEY 

• Turn on Emergency Flashers
• Position flares, reflective triangles or similar 10, 100 and 300 feet behind your vehicle.
• Keep a reflective vest in your car and wear it when needed.
• Never stand behind or directly in front of your vehicle as other roadway users may have trouble seeing you.
• Open the hood and tie any piece of bright fabric or similar on your antenna.

In any given year, AAA gets about 30 million calls for help from motorists stuck along a roadway somewhere.This summer, AAA expects to rescue 7 million American drivers, with the majority facing battery, lock and tire-related issues. This number could soar higher, with an AAA survey revealing that 4 out of 10 American drivers are unprepared for emergency breakdown situations.

With three-quarters of family travelers planning to travel by car to their favorite vacation spot, AAA reminds drivers to take the necessary precautions to ensure they are well prepared for a safe road trip.   

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and nearly 78,000 members in the District of Columbia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit  https://aaa.com