Broke Down on I-78 or the Parkway? Do These 5 Things First

The scariest place to break down in New Jersey isn't a bad neighborhood — it's the right lane of I-78 at 70 miles an hour. You've got seconds to make the right call, and most people make the wrong one: they freeze in the travel lane or get out of the car on the traffic side.

We run tows off both I-78 and the Garden State Parkway every week. We've seen what happens when drivers panic and what happens when they stay calm. Here are the five things to do, in order, before you even think about calling a tow truck.

1. Hazards On. Immediately.

The second you feel the engine die or the tire go, hit the hazard lights. Don't think about it. Don't check your mirrors first. Just reach for the button and press it. Flashing hazards tell the cars behind you something is wrong. It buys you the few seconds you need to figure out what to do next.

This sounds obvious, but under stress plenty of drivers skip it. They're focused on coasting, they're staring at the dash lights, and 10 seconds later someone has to swerve around them at 65. Hazards first, always.

2. Get Out of the Travel Lane

If the car still has momentum, steer to the right shoulder. Not the left shoulder. The right shoulder is wider, it's farther from passing traffic, and it's where tow trucks can reach you without shutting down a lane. The left shoulder on I-78 is narrow — sometimes just a few feet between the guardrail and the fast lane. Cars pass at 75 on that side. Stay away from it if the car will cooperate.

If you're in the center or left lane and the car is dead — no momentum, no steering assist — stay put. Stay belted. Do not try to push the car across live lanes. Call 911 and let them shut the road down. A totaled car is better than a dead driver.

3. Stay in the Car, Belted, Unless You Can Get Behind a Barrier

This is the one people get wrong. The urge to get out and "take a look" is strong. Fight it. The safest place is inside the car with your seatbelt on. A parked car with hazards flashing gets hit far less often than a pedestrian standing next to one.

The only reason to get out is if you can get behind a guardrail or concrete barrier — and even then, exit on the passenger side, away from traffic. Walk well behind the barrier, not on top of it, not leaning against it. If there's no barrier, stay inside. Period.

We recover cars every month that were struck from behind while parked on the shoulder. In nearly every case, the driver who stayed belted inside walked away. Don't become a highway statistic because you wanted to check the tire.

4. Call 911 If You're in a Dangerous Spot

If you couldn't reach the shoulder, if you're blocking a lane, or if you're on a blind curve, call 911 before you call a tow truck. The State Police can close a lane or slow traffic behind you while you wait. That's their job. A tow truck driver is not law enforcement and can't block traffic for you.

On the Turnpike and Parkway, the police will dispatch the authorized towing contractor for that stretch of road. You won't have a choice in who shows up, but you will get off the highway safely. If you're on I-78 or another interstate, you can request your own tow company once the police have the scene secured.

5. Call the Tow Company and Give Them the Exact Mile Marker

When you call for the tow, don't say "I'm on 78 somewhere near Newark." Look for the nearest mile marker — those small green signs every tenth of a mile on the right shoulder. Give the dispatcher the route number, direction (eastbound or westbound), and the nearest mile marker. If you passed an exit recently, name it.

This is the difference between a truck finding you in 20 minutes versus driving past you twice while you wave from the shoulder. The more precise you are, the less time you spend sitting next to 70-mile-an-hour traffic.

One More Thing: Don't Accept Help From Strangers Who Pull Over

A guy in a pickup who "knows a guy" is not a tow operator. He's not insured, he's not equipped, and if he damages your car getting it onto his trailer, you have no recourse. Wait for the marked tow truck you called. If someone who isn't the company you phoned shows up and says they were "dispatched," call your company back and confirm before you let them touch your car.

If you're stranded on I-78, the Parkway, or anywhere in Essex County right now, call us. We know the highways, we know the mile markers, and we'll get to you fast. The number is at the top of this page.