Preventing Tow Truck Miscommunication: Simple English–Malay Phrases for SG Drivers | MyMechanic

Quick safety first

Move safely into the emergency lane or a lay‑by, turn on hazard lights, and place the warning triangle well behind the vehicle.
Keep everyone away from traffic, ideally behind a barrier. Lock doors, keep phones charged, and prepare location details.

How to share location clearly

Say the highway, KM marker, and direction: “PLUS KM 213.8 southbound.”
Add one landmark: “near Pagoh R&R / after Exit ___ / before Toll ___.”
If unsure, snap a photo of the nearest KM marker or signboard and send it.

Arrival and confirmation

Can you send a tow truck to my location? — “Boleh hantar trak tunda ke lokasi saya?”
How long until arrival? — “Anggaran masa tiba berapa?”
Please call me when you are near. — “Tolong hubungi saya bila hampir sampai.”

Location and direction

I am on PLUS Highway at KM 213.8, southbound. — “Saya di Lebuhraya PLUS, KM 213.8, arah selatan.”
Near the [exit/R&R/toll/petrol station]. — “Dekat [pintu keluar/R&R/tol/stesen minyak].”
I will send my live location now. — “Saya hantar lokasi langsung sekarang.”

Vehicle and issue

Singapore plate [SGX1234A], [make/model], [colour]. — “Nombor plat Singapura [SGX1234A], [jenama/model], [warna].”
Flat tyre / Battery dead / Engine overheated / No start. — “Tayar pancit / Bateri kong / Enjin terlalu panas / Tak boleh hidup.”
Automatic / Manual; front‑wheel / rear‑wheel / 4WD. — “Auto / Manual; pacuan hadapan / pacuan belakang / 4WD.”

Tow and equipment needed

Need flatbed tow truck. — “Perlu trak tunda flatbed.”
Please bring jump starter / spare tyre tools. — “Tolong bawa jump starter / alat tukar tayar.”
Car is low (lowered). Please use ramps. — “Kereta rendah. Tolong guna ramp.”

Safety and positioning

Park behind my car with hazard lights. — “Parkir di belakang kereta saya, pasang lampu kecemasan.”
Please load from the front / rear. — “Tolong muat naik dari depan / belakang.”
Use wheel straps, not hooks on suspension. — “Guna tali roda, jangan cangkuk pada suspensi.”

Costs and confirmation

Please confirm the total before towing. — “Tolong sahkan jumlah keseluruhan sebelum tunda.”
Where will you tow the car? — “Ke mana kereta akan ditunda?”
Send a photo of the tow truck plate. — “Hantar gambar nombor plat trak tunda.”

Polite, useful words

Can / cannot — “Boleh / Tak boleh.”
Wait a moment — “Tunggu sekejap.”
Dangerous / safe — “Bahaya / Selamat.”
Slow down — “Perlahankan.”
Go straight / turn left / turn right — “Terus / belok kiri / belok kanan.”

Handy message templates

“Hello, car breakdown. PLUS KM [_], [northbound/southbound], near [landmark]. SG plate [__]. Need flatbed tow. ETA?”
“Hi, sending live location now. Car colour [], make/model []. Please call on arrival.”
“Issue: [flat tyre / battery / overheat]. Passengers safe, triangle placed. Please bring [jump starter / tools].”

Photo checklist to avoid confusion

Context: Car on the shoulder with triangle visible.
Location: Close‑up of KM marker or exit/R&R sign.
Issue: Clear shots of tyre, leak, bent rim, engine bay, or dashboard warnings.
Tow fitment: Front and rear clearance if the car is low or has a body kit.

What not to do

Don’t accept unsolicited tows without confirming destination, inclusions, and estimated total.
Don’t stand close to the live lane; keep kids and bags away from traffic.
Don’t rejoin fast traffic suddenly—wait for help if the vehicle feels unsafe.

Cross‑border coordination: Rapid dispatch for towing and on‑site fixes across major expressways.
Clear communication: Simple prompts, live‑location sharing, and bilingual coordination with partners.
End‑to‑end help: From stabilising at the roadside to towing and workshop handover, with guidance for documentation and next steps.

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