You're driving along, tunes on the radio and happy thoughts on your mind. Suddenly, a police car looms in your rearview mirror. Sirens wail, lights flash — you're being pulled over. What should you do? Panic? Run? Hope that the ticket gods are kind and that it's your lucky day?
Well, Esurance recommends that you stick to the following steps if you're ever in this situation:
- Take a deep breath.
Remain calm. It might be difficult to put on a smiling face given the circumstances, but a calm demeanor and a friendly smile can make a difference. At the very least, it'll make the incident go more smoothly.
- Put on your hazard lights.
This will signal to the police officer that you're acknowledging him and that you're planning to pull over.
- Pull over to a safe place as soon as possible.
Generally it's recommended that you pull over to the right-hand side of the road. However, if you're on a busy street or highway, this may be unsafe. Use good judgment to keep yourself and others safe from harm.
- Stay in your car and wait for instructions.
The police officer may take a moment to get your license plate information, then he or she will approach you or give you instructions on what you should do next.
- Keep your hands visible.
Having your hands in plain sight signals that there's nothing hidden up your sleeves. If the police officer can't see your hands, he or she may feel threatened.
- Provide information when asked.
Make sure that you have your drivers license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance with you. (If you're insured with Esurance, you can print copies of your insurance cards online whenever you want.)
- Don't argue or pick fights.
Whatever you do, don't make things difficult for yourself or the police officer. You'll generally get a better response if you're polite. Remember, you'll have your chance to fight the ticket in court. And if the officer doesn't show up to your hearing, you could get out of the ticket entirely, meaning it won't show up on your driving record or affect your car insurance rate.
We hope that you never get cited for a moving violation, but if you do, remember to stay calm.
And if you've never been pulled over and you have a clean record, you may be eligible for a few discounts. Visit our Auto Insurance Learning Center to learn about all the ways you can save with Esurance.