What to Do If You're Stranded on I-10 or I-69 Near Houston

Breaking down on I-10, I-69, or Beltway 8 is one of the more stressful things that can happen to a Houston driver. Traffic runs at highway speed on both sides of you, shoulders are narrow, and every second you're outside the vehicle is a risk.

Here's the playbook.

Step 1: Get off the road if you can

If you still have some power and control, move to the right shoulder — or, better, take the next exit even if it's a half-mile away. A vehicle parked at a gas station off an exit ramp is dramatically safer than one on a shoulder.

Step 2: Hazard lights, immediately

As soon as you slow down, flip on your hazard lights. Keep them on until help arrives. They're not optional even in daylight.

Step 3: Stay in the vehicle

Unless the vehicle is on fire or in imminent danger of being hit, stay inside with your seatbelt fastened. The outside of a shoulder is the most dangerous place on the freeway. Drivers get distracted, phones buzz, tires pop — you don't want to be standing next to your car when it happens.

If you must exit (fire, smoke, visible damage), exit on the passenger side away from traffic and move as far from the road as you can.

Step 4: Call for help

From the safety of your vehicle:

• If it's an emergency (crash, injury, fire): dial 911
• If it's a breakdown (flat tire, overheating, dead battery): call a tow company directly
• If you're unsure: 911 dispatch can coordinate

Smith Towing & Recovery dispatches 24/7 from Crosby. Call (832) 360-7122 — a real dispatcher picks up and will have a truck rolling your way immediately.

What to tell the dispatcher

The faster you can answer these questions, the faster we get to you:

• Exact location — nearest exit number, mile marker, direction of travel
• Vehicle description — year, make, model, color
• Nature of the problem — breakdown, accident, out of fuel, flat tire
• Whether it's drivable (helps us pick the right truck)
• Your callback number

What NOT to do

• Don't try to change a tire on the freeway shoulder. Wait for the tow truck. Roadside tire changes on a highway are one of the most dangerous things you can do.
• Don't accept help from random strangers offering to push, tow, or give you a ride. Wait for the dispatched operator — you'll get the receipts and insurance-paperwork you need, and you'll know the person is licensed.
• Don't panic. Breakdowns are common. Every tow operator in Houston has handled thousands of them.

What Smith Towing does when you call

1. Our dispatcher answers personally (no call center)
2. We confirm your location and vehicle info
3. We quote the fee upfront
4. The nearest available truck heads your way
5. You get an estimated arrival time

Typical arrival: 15 minutes in Crosby, 20–40 minutes across greater Houston.

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Save our number now: (832) 360-7122. It's cheaper to have it and not need it than to be hunting for a reliable tow truck with traffic whipping past your window at 70 mph.