A breakdown on a busy road is stressful — but the right actions in the first two minutes keep you safe and get you moving again quickly. Here is exactly what to do, step by step.
The essentials
Get off the road if you can
If you feel a problem starting, don''t panic. Ease off the accelerator, put your left indicator on and move onto the hard shoulder or, better, leave at the next exit or into a services. The further from live traffic, the safer you are.
Put your hazards on
As soon as you slow or stop, switch on your hazard warning lights so other drivers can see you — especially in poor light, rain or fog.
Get everyone out and behind the barrier
On a motorway hard shoulder, leave the car by the left doors, and wait behind the safety barrier, up the bank and away from traffic. Never stay in the vehicle on a hard shoulder, and never attempt repairs on the roadside.
Call for recovery
Ring us with your location — the marker posts on a motorway show the nearest emergency phone and a location number, or share your live location by WhatsApp. Tell us the make, colour and what happened.
Wait somewhere safe
Keep well back until help arrives. If you feel in danger, call 999. Stay visible and keep an eye on approaching traffic.
Good to know
Blue-and-white marker posts every 100m point to the nearest emergency phone; the number on them tells us exactly where you are.
Keep one within reach, not in the boot you have to open into traffic. It makes you far more visible on the roadside.
Even a quick tyre change on a live carriageway is dangerous. Let a recovery truck take the car somewhere safe.
Put it in your phone before you need it — searching for a number at the roadside wastes precious time.
