If your car breaks down on the road or you are involved in an accident, and if you cannot move your vehicle safely to its final destination or to a repair shop, road flares can help.

Road flares help oncoming traffic see any potential hazards, including a

stopped or stranded vehicle

. Whether you are stopped in the middle of the road or on the shoulder, the

proper use of road flares

can make the difference between safely having your vehicle fixed or towed or getting involved in a potentially deadly crash.

Here's how to obtain and light road flares. And if you want to protect your car from financial ruin as well as protect it from other cars, make sure you have

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Get the right equipment

Road flares should be a part of your emergency kit. If you do not have road flares, you can purchase them online or at your local auto-parts store.

With advancements in LED lighting technology, newer options include non-incendiary flares. Some of the more popular flares include:

LED Emergency Roadside Assistance Strobe

Life Gear LED Road Flares

Stonepoint Emergency LED Road Flares

Or you can still utilize traditional emergency flares, which require no battery power but must be handled very carefully to avoid possible burns. Watch out for expiration dates — flares typically are only good for four years. Expired flares should not be lit; dispose of them safely at a hazardous waste station.

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Placing road flares

Before you light any flares, you need to locate a place to put them. You want the flares to alert other passing motorists that there is an

accident

stalled car

, or some other object coming up. Be sure to place your flares on a level surface that is visible to oncoming motorists.

If possible, pull your car over to the side of the road. Also, turn on your hazard lights to warn oncoming traffic of your stopped vehicle.

Next, take your flares and place the first one about 15 feet behind your vehicle. Depending on how many flares you have, place at least two more behind the first flare at 30-foot increments.

If you are on a two-lane road or highway, it is recommended that you place one flare about 15 feet ahead of your car to warn any oncoming traffic approaching from the other direction.

You can also use

warning triangles

when you do not have flares, or if you don't have enough flares for best placement.

How to light road flares

Non-incendiary flares

Step 1: Power up. Make sure you have spare batteries on hand so you can insert them. As it is not recommended to keep batteries inside a device when it's not in use, keep the batteries close to the flare.

Step 2: Turn the flare on.

Step 3: Once your car has been fixed or towed, turn the flare off.

Traditional flares

Step 1: Remove the cap from the flare.

Step 2: Light the flare. Hold the flare so it's facing away from you or others; keep a firm grip in the middle of the flare. Strike the end of the flare against the cap, just like you would light a match (still pointing it away from you and others). Be very careful with your lit flare and immediately place it on the ground, away from anything that could catch fire.

Step 3: Make sure the flare is out. It is important to never leave a flare lit on the road once your vehicle is fixed or moved. For a traditional flare, be sure it has gone out completely. You can use water, but never step on a lit flare to put it out.

Step 4: Dispose of the used flare. Flares cannot be thrown away in your household trash. You will need to dispose of used or expired flares in a hazardous waste disposal area.

Using roadside flares can help keep you and others safe in the event of an accident or breakdown on the road. Both traditional and non-incendiary flares can come in handy, but you must exercise some caution with the former to avoid injury.

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