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It happened to me. It happened to my husband. Something goes wrong with your car and you don’t know what to do! Is there anything scarier than a flat tire, a dead battery – or worse- a car crash? Having a car emergency is not something you anticipate. It can happen suddenly, even when your think your car is well maintained. An unexpected collision or a breakdown can be unnerving for us but when you have young drivers behind the wheel it can be terrifying.
I was traveling to Toronto for a media event when it happened to me. I was on a busy highway and my tire blew. I was driving through a construction zone. Manoeuvring the car carefully as the lane were all wonky and the traffic was heavy and fast. It was sudden and unexpected when I heard a pop and the car started to swerve a bit. I can only only assume I’d hit debris on the road but I knew, I had blown a tire. Fortunately, I did not lose control of the car. Thinking quickly, I slowed down, put my hazard lights on and merged off at the next exit as there was no shoulder to pull off on. I was shaken, perplexed as to what had actually happened. What was worse, was I was in a strange city two hours away from home. No doubt about it, I needed roadside assistance.
For my husband, it was a bit more innocuous but the inconvenience was huge. He was on his way to a Blue Jays game with the teens piled into the car. Like any other road trip there was a need for a washroom and snack break. The thing is when they got back into the car the car wouldn’t start – the engine would not turn over because the battery was DEAD. He was stranded at a rest stop with 5 kids and a van that was going no where fast! Again…he was in need for roadside assistance.
As adults (and experienced drivers), we managed to get help and deal with the problem. But that’s the thing we are experienced. What if this had happened while our new (inexperienced) drivers were at the wheel? What if it had been more serious? We have conversations on safety tips for young drivers and keeping focus on driving cautiously. The number one lesson we teach our young drivers is PAY ATTENTION to the road and don’t get distracted by your phone. With an OnStar system (a safety and security technology) embedded into the car, it provided hands-free communication with a trained Advisor.
They can drive around safely knowing if they are in a collision, OnStar will automatically send a message to a call centre and you will be speaking to a real person who will assist you. If they are hurt, incapacitated, confused or panicked, a cell phone is not as useful as direct contact as soon as the accident happens. In the confusion they may have problem making sense of what just happened. With OnStar, if they (or you) need police, EMS or fire, the Advisor will help you immediately and stay on the line with you until help arrives.
Besides the automatic crash response, OnStar has stolen vehicle assistance, roadside assistance and emergency services - lifelines any parent wants when their new drive is behind the wheel. Fuel running low? OnStar Advisors will help you find the nearest gas stations as they can track the car’s current location. You tell them what you need and they will find it for you and then send the directions directly to your car. All without looking away from the road. More importantly, if they needed emergency assistance right away they don’t need accesses to their phone. That is the brilliance of OnStar technology embedded in a GM car. You don’t have to have your phone on you or even near you to seek assistance. I’m not going to lie, this is a huge attraction to subscribe to OnStar. Safety first.
What you need to know about OnStar in a Car Emergency:
- OnStar is a safety and security technology embedded directly on GM vehicles (Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac)
- It has been around for the last 20 years and has continued to improve their services for their members
- When engaged, you are connected to a real-live human emergency advisor
- Emergency advisors are medically trained and accredited by the same academy that trains 911 dispatch operators
- They can contact police, fire and/or ambulance for you
- Advisors will stay on the line to help until EMS arrives and will help you through the crisis
- They fields over 245,000 calls on a daily basis
- You can access advisors three ways: blue button (for info and directions), red emergency button or through an automatic crash response
- Automatic crash response is alerted when the car is in a collision or an airbag is deployed
- OnStar is available throughout Canada and the US should you be traveling abroad
- Turn-by-turn assistance to get to your location
- All communications are hands-free
- Crisis assistant to help during severe weather, natural disasters or other crisis
- You do not need WI-FI or data to connect to an OnStar Advisor (as your phone would)
- You can have WI-FI and data on a premium package (as well as remote key fob and vehicle location)
- You can try OnStar when you purchase your car (whether new or used)
- Membership is available as a monthly subscription
Although I would consider OnStar a great benefit for new drivers, I have to say it would also be useful for seniors. The safety and security of having access to services both in Canada and the US is an added bonus. I was lucky enough to try an OnStar car a few years ago when I attended a conference. We got a tour of the GM plant and a preview of their most recent family SUV. I was impressed with OnStar back then and now (with added WIFI features), I’m impressed now. I also know that I would have loved having this service when blew that tire on that busy highway in Toronto. Give your family peace of mind when you are driving with @OnStar #BeSafeOutThere #OnStar
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