This weekend seemed to be a weekend of breakdowns. I’m not talking about celebrities and their instability. I’m talking about cars breaking down.

Three people I know had car problems this weekend, one of whom I was with when it happened. As I sat with my friend on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck, I realized that I would have no idea what to do if I were alone and in an unfamiliar area.

Regardless of whether you know the area or not, you should be pulled over in a safe area. By safe, I mean a place where you are unlikely to cause any accidents. When my friend’s car died, we were right by a street corner and we almost caused three other accidents because people did not have enough time to react to the broken down car. Knowing this, we thought it was best to sit on the street away from the car, rather than wait inside it.

Being a Triple A Member can also be a life saver. Even if it is not your car that breaks down, Triple A will come help you out. While paying the fee is not something to look forward, especially if you rarely if ever have car trouble, you never know when it will come in handy.

If you find yourself alone when your car breaks down, call someone you know to let them know your situation. Don’t wander around, especially if it is late at night. If necessary, call 911 and let them know your situation. While it may seem a bit drastic, better to be safe, than sorry.

When I got my license, my dad gave me an emergency kit to keep in the trunk of my car. He filled an empty milk crate with a blanket, sweatshirt, flares, granola bars, towels, oil, window cleaner, toilet paper, a scraper and other various car things that I most likely would never be able to figure out how to use.

I always thought of this kit as a nuisance, taking up precious space in my trunk. I mean, when would I ever really need any of these things, especially flares?

After hearing everyone’s horror stories this weekend, I am just thankful that I am prepared.