DFW Weather & Roadside Safety: What to Do When You Break Down

A safe stop comes before a repair

DFW weather can change quickly. If your car develops a flat, loses power or stalls in rain or poor visibility, turn on the hazard lights and move to a parking lot or exit only if you can do so safely. Don't attempt a roadside repair in a live lane. If you are stuck beside fast traffic, keep your seat belt on, stay in the vehicle and call 911 if you are in immediate danger.

Rain, standing water and low visibility

Slow down, increase following distance and avoid standing water: its depth and road condition are difficult to judge. If a tire fails during a storm, don't stand on the shoulder next to passing traffic. On I-35E in Dallas or Irving, I-35W in Fort Worth, US-75 in Plano or the Dallas North Tollway near Frisco, give dispatch your nearest exit, direction of travel and a map pin. If water is rising or you're trapped, call 911.

Heat and a dead battery

If your car won't start in a safe parking spot, stay hydrated and conserve your phone battery. A jump start starts at $60; if your battery repeatedly dies, ask about battery replacement from $249 installed. Both have a $19 dispatch fee. We can help assess the right service after you text your vehicle details. Never leave children or pets in a hot locked vehicle: call 911 immediately.

What to send dispatch

Text your location or map pin, cross streets or exit, vehicle year/make/model, and the problem. For a flat, say whether the damage is in the tread or sidewall and whether you have a usable spare. A tread puncture repair starts at $49; a spare change starts at $75 labor, plus $19 dispatch. Sidewall damage isn't safely repairable. Click here to text dispatch; dispatch confirms next steps and an arrival estimate by text.

This article is general safety guidance, not a live alert or forecast. For official warnings, follow your local emergency officials and the National Weather Service.