Pull over
The very first step is to pull over – as safely and as quickly as possible. Do not slam on the brakes and come to an unexpected stop in the road. Rather switch on your hazard lights, slowly take your foot off the accelerator, gently brake, and pull into the emergency lane before coming to a stop. Make sure the car is well inside the emergency lane and do not ever step onto the road. Leave the headlights on at night or in bad weather. Place an emergency triangle about 45m behind the car. Get back into the car, lock the doors, and call for help. Wait inside the car.

Get backup
Join the Automobile Association (AA) or find out whether your insurance company offers roadside assistance – nowadays, most of them do. The peace of mind this offers extends beyond real emergencies. They take care of minor problems, too, and will, for instance, deliver fuel if you've run out, send out a locksmith if you've locked your keys into your car, or send someone to change a flat wheel.

Be prepared
Always keep a jack, a wheel spanner or brace, and fully inflated spare wheel in your boot – in case you get a flat wheel and there's no help at hand. 'But,' warns Kim Verster, general manager of Autoquip, 'not all wheel spanners fit all wheel nuts. So check yours before putting them in your boot.' Regularly check your spare wheel to ensure that it hasn't deflated too. Read the manual to your car and make sure it's always in your car.

Doing it yourself
Check that the engine is turned off and that the handbrake and hazard lights are on. Put the car into gear, but do not turn it on. If the ground is not absolutely level or the car is standing on a hill, place a wheel chock or rock against one wheel to prevent the car from moving. Place the jack under the chassis in front of the tyre. (Check the manual to see exactly where on your car.) Remove the hubcap. Loosen the bolts, without removing them, by placing one end of the wheel spanner over a bolt and turning the wrench anticlockwise. Work in a crisscross pattern by loosening the bolt diagonally opposite the one you've just done. Carefully jack up the car and remove the tyre. Completely loosen the bolts and remove them. Take care to put them in a safe place. Remove the wheel from the wheel studs and replace it with the spare. Replace the bolts and tighten them, again working in a crisscross pattern. First tighten each bolt loosely. Finally, lower the jack and remove it. Tighten the nuts well before replacing the hubcab.

Emergency kit
Put together an emergency kit for your car and keep it in the boot at all times. Use an airtight plastic container and fill it with: