Here is also a much-needed reminder to check the condition of your car tyres, including your spare!
While many might say that we currently live in an increasingly selfish and self-centred world, there are nevertheless to actually still some good people out there willing to lend a helping hand.
And despite it being slightly unflattering to toot one’s own horn here, it is in any case too with some degree of pride to say that this small group of good samaritans includes the team at DSF.my, who recently took on the impromptu part-time role of being roadside assistance personnel, in order to help a random stricken woman and daughter change the flat on their Honda Jazz.
This story unfolded when three members of the wider DSF team were recently travelling back together from a prior engagement, and the sight of a lone lady attempting to heave the space saver out of the boot of her car in the evening sun was enough to see them pull over and ask if any help was required in changing what was an absolutely shredded front left tyre. The lady (likely upon being charmed by the friendly face of Gohed Gostan’s managing editor) rather graciously agreed to take them up on this offer of assistance, and the three automotive media personnel soon made short work of changing the flat.
With three knowledgable pairs of hands working on the tyre change, the space saver took the place of the absolutely shredded original tyre in about 25 minutes. Admittedly not exactly F1 pitstop fast that’s for sure, but with the lady stating that she was just about to start watching YouTube videos on how to change the flat before help arrived, the team were certainly content that they were able to send her and her daughter on their way home before the sun fully set.
Now seeing as this kind gesture was never really intended to become a story worth publicising in the first place, there is unfortunately not many photos taken to document this incident. And as one of the trio who was on hand in helping out with this good deed, it had to be said too that all of us were to be quite busy with the task at hand of changing the tyre to actually think of taking any pictures.
That said, this story is as you read it here because the newly-fitted space saver soon became as flat as a pancake!
Having been left untouched and unobserved in the Jazz’s boot for the better part of a decade, most of the air within the space saver had decided to not actually remain within the tyre by the time it needed to be used. Fortunately in this situation though, the Perodua Ativa Hybrid that the team were in at the time incidentally had ditched its own spare for a tyre repair kit, and the portable air compressor that came as part of it certainly saved the day here.
You however may not be so lucky. So in lieu of still remaining stranded at the side of the road even after changing the tyre, here is a reminder then to please check your spare as well, and make sure it is well inflated!
Also worth a mention here is that those who are not fortunate to encounter such kind hearted souls willing to help out in need their time of need should just bear in mind that most insurance providers do currently tend to offer FREE roadside assistance bundled with their coverage. Keeping their hotline handy should be something to do if you haven’t already too then.
Oh, and just one more thing on a general humanity note as well, staring daggers at the poor person that is already not having the best of days by being stranded by the side of the road only really adds more misery to the world, while doing nothing to make the traffic move any faster. Stopping out to help out on the other hand really doesn’t cost all that much time (especially relative to being stuck in the jam caused in its wake), and what time lost is made back from good vibes gained from the act of aiding a fellow in need.
