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What to do if you breakdown

If you’ve ever been involved in a vehicle breakdown, you’ll know that it’s inconvenient, at best - and at worst it can be dangerous. These guidelines provide essential advice about what to do if you break down on the motorway or on other roads.

We recommend you always have a map, breakdown recovery number, mobile phone, red triangle, waterproof warm coat and a torch in your car just in case. And before you go on a long journey, always check your water, oil, fuel and tyres (including tyre pressures and wear and tear). If in doubt get help in checking your car before you leave.

Breaking down on a motorway

The hard shoulders on motorways are for emergencies only, so don’t stop on the hard shoulder unless you really have no other choice. Go on to an exit. If you need to stop on a motorway you should:

• Stay calm. Pull over as far to the left as you can until you get to the hard shoulder, (if possible, near an emergency telephone), being careful not to cut across slower traffic. Turn on your sidelights and hazard lights. Do not attempt to repair your vehicle.
• Get out of your vehicle on the left-hand side and make sure any passengers do the same.
• If you have reflective jackets, wear them, but do not use a reflective triangle.
• Make your way to an emergency telephone on your side of the carriageway; this will connect you directly to the police and make it easier for them to pinpoint your location. If you use a mobile phone, make sure you can describe where you are.
• Return to a point near your vehicle and wait for the police. Stay well away from the carriageway.
• If your vehicle starts again, be careful how you rejoin the motorway. Build up speed on the hard shoulder before easing out into a gap in the traffic – but don’t forget to watch out for other vehicles that may have stopped on the hard shoulder.
• If you break down and are unable to get your vehicle on the hard shoulder, switch on your hazard lights and leave your vehicle only when you can get safely off the carriageway. Don’t try to put a warning triangle on the carriageway.

If you have a disability that makes it impossible for you to follow the above guidelines, stay in your vehicle and switch on your hazard lights. Use a mobile phone to contact the police.

Breaking down on other roads

• If you are able, move your vehicle off the road and turn on your hazard lights.
• Put on a reflective jacket if you have one. If it’s safe to do so, put a warning triangle on the road 45 metres (50 yards) behind your vehicle.
• If you are concerned that your vehicle may be hit by other traffic, get any passengers to leave the vehicle and wait in a safe place.
• Use a phone to call for assistance. The GreenFlag breakdown recovery number is 0800 783 0587.
• If you have used a warning triangle, don’t forget to take it off the road and put it back in your car after the breakdown has been resolved.