What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down on I-90: A Cleveland Driver's Roadside Safety Guide

Breaking down is stressful anywhere. Breaking down on I-90 — with semis blowing past at 70 mph — is genuinely dangerous. Knowing what to do in the first 60 seconds matters more than anything else. Here's a step-by-step guide for Cleveland drivers.

Step 1: Get Off the Travel Lanes

Step 1: Get Off the Travel Lanes

Signal, slow down gradually, and pull as far onto the right shoulder as you can. If you can't reach the shoulder, stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt on and your hazard lights flashing. Never try to push a car across live lanes.

Step 2: Make Yourself Visible

Turn on your hazard lights immediately. If you have reflective triangles or flares, place them behind your vehicle — about 100 feet back on the shoulder. At night, keep your interior dome light on so other drivers can see someone is inside.

Step 3: Stay in the Vehicle (Usually)

On a busy highway like I-90, I-71, or I-480, the safest place is inside your car with your seatbelt fastened, as far from traffic as your seating position allows. Only exit if there's a safe barrier or grassy area well away from the road — and exit from the passenger side.

Step 4: Call for Help — Know Your Location

When you call for roadside assistance, give your exact location: the highway, direction of travel, nearest exit or mile marker. On I-90 through Cleveland, exits come fast — noting the last one you passed helps your tow driver find you quickly.

Step 5: Don't Accept Help from Strangers You Didn't Call

Well-meaning passersby stop, but you have no way to verify who they are. It's fine to be polite, but stay in your locked vehicle and wait for the professional service you called.

Step 6: If It's Winter, Conserve Heat Wisely

If you're stuck in a snowstorm, run the engine in short bursts for heat and crack a window slightly to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Make sure your tailpipe isn't blocked by snow.

The Bottom Line

A breakdown plan beats roadside panic every time. Save a reliable local tow number in your phone before you need it — not after.

Shiloh provides 24/7 towing and roadside assistance across Cuyahoga County — jump-starts, lockouts, flat tires, fuel delivery, and towing from wherever Cleveland roads leave you stranded. Based at 3229 W 73rd St, Unit 6, Cleveland, OH 44102, we're local, we're nearby, and we're ready around the clock.