Driving on the motorway has its own hazards, but what about when you have a breakdown on the motorway? Here are a few tips to help keep you and other road users safe in this situation. Details of our free breakdown cover are on our fleet services website
- As soon as you become aware of a problem or loss of power, put on your hazard lights and safely pull over to the left hand side. When you stop, make sure that your wheels are turned to the left. This prevents your car being shunted into the motorway if there is a further accident.
- Get out of the car – as many as 12% of all fatalities happen on the hard-shoulder. Also, you are more than seven times more likely to be involved in an accident on the hard shoulder.
- When leaving the car, leave by the left-hand passenger doors. The slipstream from fast moving passing cars can pull a person onto the motorway.
- Do not attempt any repairs.
- Try and use the Emergency Telephones if safe to do so as these have identification numbers to help the Emergency and Breakdown Services find you. If you are unable to use these, then use the GPS from your mobile or Navigation System to give the first responders an accurate location. There should also be Driver Location Signs on the motorway to help you give an accurate location.
- Wait on the banking away from other vehicles. If you are feeling vulnerable or unsafe, keep the left-hand passenger door of your car slightly open so that you can enter your car quickly if you need to do so.
- Emergency Warning Triangles are not to be used on the motorway .
- If you cannot get onto the hard shoulder, leave your vehicle only when safe to do so.
Make sure that you have the number of your Breakdown Service stored on your mobile phone, and also that your breakdown membership is current.
