If you experience a vehicle breakdown, your first and most important priority is making sure you and any passengers stay safe. Driving a vehicle that breaks down can be a dangerous situation, especially if you’re travelling on a busy road, such as a motorway, at the time.
Let’s take a look at some of the steps you can take to stay safe in a breakdown.
- Stop in a safe place
- Exit the vehicle from the passenger side
- Find a safe and secure spot for passengers outside of the vehicle
- Keep pets inside the vehicle
- Call Breakdown Assistance for help
- Put your hazard warning lights on. If it’s dark or foggy, keep your sidelights on too.
- Stay well away from moving traffic. It’s usually safest to get out of your car (using the doors facing away from passing traffic) and wait behind a barrier. If you’re on a motorway, move up the bank if you can. Leave animals in the car
Wear a reflective jacket if you have one.
- Do not put a warning triangle on the hard shoulder if you’re on a motorway – it’s not safe. If you’re on a road and it’s safe, you can put a warning triangle at least 45m (50 yards) behind your vehicle.
- Do not attempt even a simple repair if you’re on a motorway.
Please note that this information is for guidance only and not to be relied upon as advice.