It happens without warning. One moment you're driving down US-90 through Dayton or heading north on Highway 146 toward Liberty, and the next your engine light is blazing, your car is shuddering, or you've got a tire that's gone completely flat. Traffic is moving fast and you're sitting on the shoulder wondering what to do next.

This guide walks you through exactly what to do — in order — so you stay safe and get back on the road as quickly as possible.

Step 1: Get Off the Road Immediately

The moment you sense something is wrong, your first priority is getting your vehicle out of the travel lanes.

Signal and move to the right shoulder as smoothly as you can. If your car is barely drivable, a flat tire or minor mechanical issue is far less dangerous than stopping in a live lane. Drive on the rim if you have to — a damaged wheel is replaceable; getting rear-ended at highway speed is not.

If you can't make it to the shoulder, turn on your hazard lights immediately and try to coast to the nearest intersection, parking lot entrance, or a wide area off the pavement.

Key rule: Right shoulder, as far right as possible. The farther you are from traffic, the safer you are.

Step 2: Turn On Your Hazard Lights

This sounds obvious, but in a panic it's easy to forget. Hazard lights should go on the instant you realize something is wrong — even before you've fully stopped.

Hazards warn approaching drivers that your vehicle is disabled. On US-90 through Dayton or along Highway 146 between Dayton and Liberty, where traffic moves fast and visibility can be limited at night or in rain, those blinking lights can be the difference between a close call and a collision.

Leave them on the entire time you're stopped, even if it's broad daylight.

Step 3: Stay in Your Vehicle (Usually)

Once you're on the shoulder with hazards on, your safest place is usually inside your car with your seatbelt on.

US-90 and Highway 146 are high-traffic corridors. Drivers who drift onto the shoulder — whether distracted, drowsy, or simply misjudging — are a real hazard to anyone standing outside a disabled vehicle. If you must exit the car, get out on the passenger side (away from traffic) and move well behind the guardrail or up an embankment.

Exception: If your car is smoking, you smell burning, or you suspect a fire — get out immediately and move far away from the vehicle.

Step 4: Make Your Vehicle Visible

If you have them, deploy road flares or reflective triangles behind your vehicle. Place them at 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet behind the car to give approaching drivers maximum warning.

No flares? Use whatever you have — a bright jacket draped over the trunk, the dome light on, anything that makes your car more visible. At night on a dark stretch of FM 1960 or Highway 146, visibility is everything.

Step 5: Call for Help

Now it's time to make the call. You have a few options:

Call a tow truck directly. This is almost always the fastest path. A local towing company like JTT Towing & Storage — dispatching from Dayton, TX — can reach most points on US-90, Highway 146, and FM 1960 in and around Dayton faster than waiting for a highway patrol response.

📞 JTT Towing: 281.224.0106 — we answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Call 911 if you're in danger. If you're in an unsafe location, injured, or feel threatened, call 911 first. Texas DPS patrols these highways regularly and can assist with traffic control while you wait for a tow.

Call your roadside assistance provider. If you have AAA, insurance-based roadside coverage, or a manufacturer's roadside plan, call them. Be aware that response times through third-party dispatch can be longer than calling a local tow company directly.

Step 6: Know Your Location

When you call for help, the dispatcher needs to know where you are. On US-90 or Highway 146, the easiest way to give your location is:

• Nearest cross street or landmark — "just past the FM 1960 intersection on US-90" or "on Hwy 146 near the Dayton city limits"
• Direction of travel — northbound, southbound, eastbound, or westbound
• Nearest business or intersection — gas stations, feed stores, and farm supply businesses are common landmarks along these routes
• Your GPS coordinates — if you have a smartphone, your maps app will show your exact location

The more specific you can be, the faster we can find you.

Step 7: Don't Accept Help from Strangers

It's a hard truth, but unsolicited "Good Samaritans" who pull over on the highway can sometimes be a safety risk. If someone stops and offers to help, you don't have to get out of your car or accept a ride.

Roll your window down slightly and tell them you've already called a tow truck and you're fine. Most people mean well, but you're safer waiting for a professional you called yourself.

Common Breakdown Scenarios on US-90 and Hwy 146 Near Dayton

Flat Tire

If you have a spare and the skills to change it safely, you can do so on the shoulder — but only if you're fully off the road and the ground is stable. If you're not confident, or if it's dark, raining, or the shoulder is narrow, call a tow. A flat tire change on a busy highway shoulder is genuinely dangerous.

Overheating Engine

Pull over immediately and turn off the engine. Do not open the radiator cap — the coolant is under pressure and can cause serious burns. Let the engine cool for at least 30 minutes before checking anything. If the temperature gauge spiked into the red, the engine may have sustained damage; a tow is the safest call.

Dead Battery

If someone offers a jump start, accept it — but make sure they know what they're doing. A jump from a well-meaning stranger who crosses the cables can damage both vehicles. If you're not sure, wait for a professional.

Transmission or Engine Failure

If the car simply won't move or is making serious mechanical noises, don't try to drive it. Call a tow truck. Driving a vehicle with a failing transmission or engine can turn a repairable problem into a total loss.

What to Expect When JTT Towing Arrives

When you call JTT Towing & Storage, here's what happens:

1. A real person answers — no automated system, no voicemail
2. We confirm your location and dispatch the nearest available truck
3. We give you an honest ETA
4. Our driver will contact you when they're close
5. We load your vehicle safely and transport it to your preferred shop, your home, or our secure storage facility in Dayton

We handle light duty passenger vehicles, SUVs, trucks, and heavy duty commercial vehicles. Flatbed, wheel-lift, and winch-out equipment is available depending on your situation.

Keep This Number Saved

The best time to save a tow truck number is before you need one. Add JTT Towing to your contacts right now:

📞 281.224.0106

We serve Dayton, Cleveland, Liberty, Baytown, Huffman, Crosby, Highlands, Mont Belvieu, Atascocita, Kingwood, Splendora, and all surrounding areas in Liberty, Harris, and Chambers counties.

Breaking down on US-90 or Highway 146 is stressful. Knowing exactly what to do — and having the right number already in your phone — makes it a lot less so.

Call JTT Towing now for 24/7 emergency towing in Dayton and across Southeast Texas