If you drive in Durham, North Carolina, you know that Interstate 85 and NC-147 (The Durham Freeway) can be incredibly chaotic. Between the ongoing construction zones in North Durham and the heavy commuter traffic heading toward Research Triangle Park (RTP), these highways demand your full attention.
But what happens when you hear a loud pop from a blown tire, or your engine suddenly overheats and loses power?
Breaking down on a busy highway is terrifying. Thousands of pounds of metal are flying past you at 70 mph, and the shoulder space is often dangerously narrow. At Bullcity Towing & Services, we rescue stranded drivers from Durham’s highways every single day.
To keep you and your family safe, here are the 5 critical steps you must take if your vehicle breaks down on I-85, I-40, or NC-147.
1. Get Off the Road (If Possible)
The moment you realize your car is failing, do not abruptly hit the brakes. Take your foot off the gas, turn on your right turn signal, and carefully maneuver to the right shoulder.
- Aim for the right shoulder: It is almost always safer than the left median.
- If you can’t make it to the shoulder: Turn on your hazard lights immediately and coast as far out of the flow of active traffic as you can.
- Pro Tip: Once parked, turn your steering wheel away from the highway. If your car is rear-ended, this prevents it from being pushed directly into moving traffic.
2. Make Yourself Highly Visible
Other drivers are often distracted. You need to make sure they see your disabled vehicle long before they reach you.
- Turn on your hazard lights (flashers) immediately.
- If it is nighttime or raining, keep your running lights on.
- If you have reflective triangles or road flares in your trunk, place them behind your vehicle—but only if it is safe to exit your car to do so.
3. Stay Inside Your Vehicle
This is the number one mistake stranded drivers make. Do not stand outside your car on a busy highway. Walking along the shoulder of I-85 or trying to change a flat tire on the traffic side of your vehicle is incredibly dangerous. Stay inside your vehicle with your seatbelt properly fastened until a police officer or a professional tow truck arrives. Your car’s frame provides a cage of protection that you do not have standing on the asphalt.
4. Pinpoint Your Exact Location
When you call for help, saying “I’m on I-85” isn’t enough. Dispatchers need to know exactly where you are to reach you quickly. Look for:
- Mile Markers: Small green signs on the side of the highway.
- Exit Signs: Are you past the Duke Street exit in North Durham? Or heading towards the Ellis Road exit in East Durham?
- Landmarks: Look for overpasses, bridges, or shopping centers. If you have a smartphone, open Google Maps or Apple Maps and drop a pin on your current location so you can read the exact address or cross streets to the dispatcher.
5. Call a Local Towing Professional
When you are stuck in a dangerous spot, you do not have time to wait 90 minutes for a national roadside club to find an available truck from two towns away. You need a local company that is already patrolling the area.
Call a local, top-rated company like Bullcity Towing & Services. Because we are based right here in Durham, we know the fastest routes around highway traffic and construction.
- Need a flatbed tow to your mechanic?
- Ran completely out of gas near RTP?
- Need emergency accident recovery?
Our dispatchers will give you an honest ETA, and our drivers will arrive with high-visibility safety lights to secure the scene while we load your vehicle.
Don’t Panic—Help is Just a Call Away
A highway breakdown is stressful, but staying calm and following these steps will keep you safe. Add our number to your phone contacts right now so you never have to frantically search for help on the side of the road.
Stranded in Durham right now? Call Bullcity Towing at (919) 381-2850 for immediate 24/7 dispatch.
