If your car broke down on the side of the road, what would you do?

Well, seems like the first thing to do it make sure you've pulled over so you aren't hit and aren't an obstruction. Then you qould get a cell phone (if you have one) and try to figure out what the problem was while calling a nearby friend/family member to come pick you up. Unless you knew a tower off the top of your head you'd either call a friend who could do it (if oyu have one) or get your friend to look one up for you.

First time participant.... Joined five days late.... WILL SHE MAKE IT?! (:O The suspense!)

That's a very logical train of thought, thanks!!

If the interstate is buisy, they must be near a city or town. The highway patrol goes back and forth on many roads on a regular basis looking specifically for people in trouble. When you get out in the boonies, you don't get much traffic (where I live anyway). If I had a cell phone I would call my road service. If I did not have a telephone, I would try to get to a place where I could call.

There are volunteer travelers assistants/roadside assistance people trolling the highway system also. These people are often retirees who belong to these "Good Samaritan" type orgs. Also many truck drivers and other companies, like news organizations may help and report a break down. Actually within a city you probably won't have to wait long for help. Sometimes you have to make a signal. The word was that you tie a white piece of cloth on your antenna or put a "Help" sign on your car. They used to make reflective summer windshield shades that had the word "Help" written on them.

If you are out in the middle of nowhere, truckers might report you to the sheriff or someone else who can see if you are okay and help you to call a tow truck. Usually you would try to get their attention with some kind of body language that says you need help (jumping around waving and screaming help is good) It depends on the resources around there at the time.

If you cannot get any help, and do not have a phone, you need to go into survival skills mode.

I realise that this is a week late and probably no use, but I was just curious that none of the other respondents said anything about calling a breakdown service. Are they not a part of the US landscape? I don't mean just calling a tow truck, but calling an organisation that you are a member of already and whose membership fee covers various grades of rescue (Homestart, where they will rescue you if the car won't start at home, Rescue, they come and try and fix it by the roadside, Recovery, where they take the vehicle to a garage and Recovery Plus, where they take it to a garage and get you to your intended destination. ) I used to belong to the RAC (Royal Automobile Association) then the AA (Automobile Association). Now I have a service through my insurance and I think that piggybacks on Greenflag who send out a local garage whereas the other two have their own fleets of vehicles.
The benefit of these is that you know who is coming and they will confirm when they get to you that you are the right customer. For a lone female driver that is an important consideration. Also, they can often locate you from your mobile signal if you are not sure where you are!
Otherwise, if I broke down on a busy road, i would not wait for the breakdown people in the vehicle, but off the road and if possible on the far side of a kerbside barrier, in case the vehicle is hit.

Ooohhh, thank you! I hadn't thought about that at all! And the information is still worth it ;D I also didn't think about the car getting hit xD I guess it's pretty easy to tell I'm not a very experienced driver. But it's still nice info to know, thanks again!