Breakdown Safety: What to Do If Your Car Stops

Breaking down is stressful and dangerous, especially on high-speed roads. Knowing exactly what to do can save your life. This guide covers the essential steps for breakdowns on UK motorways and rural roads.

1. On a Motorway (with Hard Shoulder)

• Pull Over: Move to the hard shoulder as far to the left as possible. Turn your wheels to the left.
• Lights: Turn on your hazard warning lights. If it's dark or foggy, keep your sidelights on.
• Get Out: Exit the vehicle from the left (passenger) side. Do not use the driver's door.
• Safety: Get behind the safety barrier. Stay upstream of your vehicle (so if it's hit, it won't be pushed into you).
• Call for Help: Use a roadside emergency phone (which pinpoints your location) or your mobile.

2. On a Smart Motorway (No Hard Shoulder)

Smart motorways often use the hard shoulder as a running lane. See our Smart Motorways Guide for more details.

• Emergency Refuge Areas (ERAs): Try to reach an ERA, marked with blue signs and an orange SOS phone.
• If You Can't Reach an ERA: Move to the leftmost lane if possible. Turn on hazards.
• If You Stop in a Live Lane: Stay in the vehicle with seatbelts on. Call 999 immediately.

3. On Country Roads

• Visibility: Try to stop in a visible place, not on a blind bend or just over the brow of a hill.
• Warning Triangle: If it's safe, place a warning triangle at least 45 metres behind your vehicle. Never use a warning triangle on a motorway.
• Wait Safely: Stand away from the vehicle and the road while waiting for help.

4. Essential Emergency Kit

Keep these items in your car, especially in winter:

• Warm clothes and blankets
• High-visibility jacket
• Torch with spare batteries
• First aid kit
• Food and water
• Fully charged mobile phone and power bank

Stay safe on UK roads. For more driving advice, read our guide on motorway driving tips.