Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ROAD TRIP PROBLEM-BUSTER
What should I do if my car breaks down?
Call the roadside emergency assistance
number of your car-rental company or, if you're driving your own vehicle, your automobile
club. Otherwise, call information (411) for the number of the nearest towing service or
auto-repair shop.
What if I'm involved in an accident?
If it's safe to do so, pull over to the side of the road.
For minor 'fender benders' with no injuries or significant property damage, exchange in-
surance and driver's license information with other drivers and file a report with your car-
rental company or insurance provider as soon as possible. For major accidents, call 911
and wait for the police and emergency services to arrive.
What if I'm stopped by the police or California Highway Patrol?
Don't get out of the
car unless asked. Be courteous and keep your hands where the officer can see them at all
times (eg on the steering wheel). For traffic violations, there's typically a 30-day period in
which to pay a fine online or by mail. Police can legally give roadside sobriety checks to
assess if you've been drinking or using drugs.
What should I do if my car gets towed?
Call the local police department's nonemer-
gency number and ask where to pick up your car. Do this immediately, since towing and
storage fees can quickly amount to hundreds of dollars.
Hwy 49 Through Gold Country
That highway number is no coincidence: it commemorates the forty-niners who came to
get rich in California's Gold Rush. Today, Hwy 49 (Golden Chain Hwy; (
Click here
) con-
nects the historic towns and rolling hills of Gold Country up in the Sierra Nevada foothills,
a short drive from the state capital of Sacramento.
Why Go?
Get a taste of California's early pioneer days, when hell-raising mine prospectors, railroad
workers and ruffians rushed helter-skelter into the Wild West. Ride an antique steam train,
try your own hand at panning for gold or be entertained at living-history museums and
