How to Flag Down a Police Officer

Whether you're driving or walking there may come that unfortunate moment when you need to flag down a police officer. It's relatively simple to do but there are certain things the police will be looking for. The following steps will help you let police officers know you need assistance.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

On the road

1. Pull the car off the road. At the first sign of car trouble, get as far onto the right shoulder as possible. Your goal here is to be out of other motorists' way.

2. Raise the hood. This is the standard "car trouble" sign. Whenever the hood is up, other motorists and police officers driving by will know you need assistance.

3. Tie something white to the antenna. Again, this is a standard sign of a motorist in need. A white cloth on your antenna will help you flag down a police officer and give tow trucks a better chance of finding you.

On Foot

4. Wave your arms above your head. Make your movements as big as possible to increase your chance of flagging down a police officer. This is something they will be on the lookout for.

5. Run and yell. Since it's likely an emergency, time is important. Run as fast as possible to the police officer and yell to flag her down. The louder you are, the better your chance of being noticed.

6. Be careful. Watch where you're going and don't run across traffic. While it's important to flag down the police officer you don't want to get hurt in the process.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't tie a cloth to the antenna, roll it up in your window. The important thing is to have something white on the vehicle to identify it.