6 Numbers Every Driver Should Store On Their Cellphone
No matter how confident you are behind the wheel, accidents and mishaps will always happen. And when they do, you need to be ready. You might need to call the emergency services. You could be stuck in a remote location without access to a mechanic or a breakdown service. With this in mind, we suggest you add the following numbers to your phone before you get in your car again – because you just don’t know when you will need them.
Emergency and non-emergency numbers
We’ll assume that you already know to call 911 in an emergency – and most phones already have the number stored. However, there are emergency situations and non-emergency situations that can occur, so make sure you have the numbers of your local police department locked into your phone, too. While you might need to speak to the police, you don’t always have to call 911 – and doing so can be a waste of resources, and your call could stop a grave situation from being reported.
In Case of Emergency numbers
In Case of Emergency – or ICE – numbers are important to have on your phone, too. The emergency services will look for these if you have a serious accident and are incapable of communicating. All you need to do is place the term ICE in front of your next of kin or family, and the emergency tea will be able to notify your loved ones of your condition and location.
Breakdown service
When you break down in the middle of the night in a remote location, you don’t want to be scrabbling around trying to phone around for the cheapest breakdown service. So, do your research beforehand, find the best breakdown operator in your area, and store their number on your phone. Get cover, too – but make sure that you check the coverage. Some breakdown insurance isn’t worth the paper you sign, so look at the small print in the finest detail.
Locksmith
You probably chuckle a little when you hear the stories of people locking themselves out of the car. But make no mistake, it will happen to you one day. Finding a good local locksmith now will help you out – and if you sniff around enough, you should find a better price, too. Again, you might think this is overkill – until it happens to you and you are stuck somewhere remote with no way of getting home.
Your auto insurance provider
If you crash your car – or someone crashes into you – the sooner you contact your insurance provider, the better. As most insurance companies will tell you, it’s almost more important you call them before the emergency services. The quicker you get moving, the sooner you will be able to start making a claim against the other driver. Also, the event will be fresh in the memory, and you will be able to give a much better account of what happened.
OK, so there you have it – make sure you have these numbers in your cell phone before you head out for your next drive. Who knows – perhaps you will need them sooner than you think?