So how do you deal with these emergencies? There are plenty of considerations (some simple, some more complicated). What follows is an array of tips you can use if you're faced with a roadside breakdown:

Pull off the road. Avoid coming to a stop in a dangerous place, such as over the crest of a hill or on a blind corner. If possible, gradually reduce your speed and drive to a spot where it is safe to pull over. If on a freeway, attempt to move to the far right lane. It's far safer than a lane next to the center median. If you have a flat tire, it's better to drive on the flat for a short distance and at a slow speed rather than risk changing the tire in a dangerous spot.

If the emergency is not overheating related, open the hood. If the vehicle is overheating, do not open the hood. Open the deck lid instead. If you have flares or safety triangles or additional reflectors, this is the time to set them up.

Under darkness, if you can stop safely under a roadside light, that's the best location to park the car. It provides additional security and it also provides light for minor repairs (for example, changing a tire). Additionally, it makes it easier for a tow truck to locate your vehicle.

If your car or light truck loses power and you're forced to stop in a live lane on the highway, put on your hazard lights to warn approaching traffic. If it's dark outside or your stuck in bad weather, turn on the low-beam headlamps. Bear in mind that the battery will run down quickly if the headlamps are on and the engine in inoperative. If possible set up flares or safety triangles to the rear of the vehicle. If you cannot exit the vehicle due to traffic, then keep your seat belt fastened. Only attempt to exit the vehicle once it is safe to do so, and when you do become clear of the vehicle, move behind a guardrail and stay well back of the road way.

If you have a cellular phone, use it to call for help. It's no secret the U.S. and Canada share the number 911 for emergency assistance. Keep in mind that 911 operators cannot pinpoint your location when using a cell phone. As a result, it's important to have some sort of landmark (a mile marker is a good one). Remember that a cell phone may not be in a coverage area. As a result, there may be no service.

If you're a member of an auto club, keep the telephone number handy (either keep your membership card on you at all times or right the number down in the owner's manual). Not all towing companies are affiliated with various auto clubs. By using your auto club number, you'll be able to reach the appropriate towing company. If you don't have a membership in an auto club, keep in mind that few tow truck operators take checks. Most often it's a cash, credit card or direct debit system of payment.

In bad weather (particularly winter conditions), stay in the vehicle and provided the engine is not operational, keep the windows and doors closed in order to maintain warmth inside the car. If the engine is operational and you need to warm the vehicle, only do so with at least one window open. Keep snow and debris away from the exhaust pipe exit. The idea is to avoid any chance of carbon monoxide poisoning. We should also point note that the cases of hypothermia increase when people wander away from their vehicles in in-climate weather.

When remaining in the vehicle, keep the doors and the windows locked. Should someone stop to assist you, open the window slightly and ask him or her to call for assistance (if you have not made contact yourself). If you decide to walk away from the car or truck, it's a good idea to write your name along with the time and date you left the car, along with the direction you plan to go on a piece of paper. Leave the paper in a visible spot on the dash panel. Lock the car. If walking, be sure to face traffic. It's not easy to see cars approach from the rear. Be cautious when accepting a ride. If you must, include the license plate number and if possible a description of the car you leave in (color, vehicle make and model) on the dashboard note.

Be very careful in overheating situations. The first reaction is to open the hood. Don't! The hood acts as an additional barrier against high pressurized, scalding hot coolant. Once the steam has subsided you can open the hood to search for a potential cause. Overheating can be caused by any number of things, but the most probable include broken belts, damaged hoses or a loose radiator cap. In any case, the vehicle will discharge coolant (causing the system to be low). It's difficult enough to accomplish a roadside fix, only to discover you don't have sufficient coolant to fill the system to capacity.

If you encounter a fire situation somewhere in the car, pull over immediately. If you have a fire extinguisher, point the discharge at the base of the fire, not the top. Use extreme care and consideration when attempting to fight a fire in an automobile. Automotive fires can expand quickly, simply because there are sufficient fuels in a motor vehicle to promote rapid combustion and explosion. If you determine you can't fight the fire or if don't have an extinguisher, back away from car as far and as quickly as possible.

Changing a flat tire can prove intimidating. The process often depends upon your vehicle, the type of equipment on the vehicle, and the type of spare (conventional, temporary, or compact with an inflator). lf you have a flat and have never changed a tire, refer to the vehicle owner's manual. Manuals typically include a comprehensive section on changing wheels/tires. The best bet though is to perform a dry practice run in the safety of your driveway. Unfortunately, flat tires tend not to be daylight discriminate. Carry a pair of gloves (wheels and tires are dirty) and a working flashlight in your vehicle. You'll appreciate it if and when you have to change a tire.

The prospect of jump-starting a vehicle can prove daunting for many. Although it isn't a difficult task, if the process isn't done correctly, it can prove dangerous. Move the booster vehicle so that the batteries of both cars are as close as possible, but without the vehicles touching. Turn off the engine on the booster car and set the park brakes on both vehicles. With both hoods open, locate the positive (marked POS or +) and negative (marked NEG or -) terminals on each battery. Attach the jumper cable with the red clamps to the positive posts of each battery. Never allow the metal clamps of the red (positive) and black (negative) cables to come in contact with each other. On the vehicle with the good battery (the one that is doing the "boosting") attach the jumper cable with the black clamps to the negative post of the battery. On the vehicle that is disabled, connect the black cable to a section of bare metal (steel) on the car's engine or frame, as far away as possible from the battery. The reason for this is, batteries release hydrogen gas. As you can well imagine, hydrogen gas is highly explosive and as a result you must avoid sparks in the vicinity of the battery. Start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery. Rev the engine slightly (to perhaps 1,000 RPM) to ensure the battery is charging. Start the disabled vehicle. If the car refuses to start, shut the running vehicle off and double check the connections. If the connections are correct and the disabled vehicle still does not start, it's time to haul it to a mechanic. With both vehicles running, disconnect the cables, reversing the order. Start with the black ground connection first on the disabled vehicle, disconnect the black cable on the booster vehicle and finally disconnect the red positive cables. You may have to drive the vehicle for fifteen minutes or so in order to recharge the battery. If it discharges again, take it to a mechanic for diagnosis and repair.

Bonus Tip: Make a photocopy of these roadside emergency tips and leave it in your glove box!