Vehicle breakdown advice

Preventing a breakdown:

  • make sure your vehicle is serviced regularly
  • make sure you have enough fuel for your journey, or a garage to go to before you run out
  • carry out checks from the vehicle’s manufacturer’s handbook as often as they say to do so
  • don’t ignore warning lights on your car’s dashboard
  • stop at a safe place to check the problem
  • consult the manufacturer’s handbook if you are unsure of what to do
  • be registered to a breakdown cover service because if anything does happen, they are likely to respond faster than anyone else you could contact, and they will probably be cheaper than if you have to pay a local garage or the police to tow your vehicle anywhere
  • try to drive as little distance as possible before the problem is resolved
  • have a ‘survival kit’ in your car, this should include a thick coat/blanket in winter; cool drinks in summer; a torch (especially if you are travelling at night; change for a public phone (you may not be able to get mobile phone reception even if you have one with you);reflective vest for when you are out of the vehicle; orange warning triangle; drink and non-perishable food (especially if you have no breakdown cover and/or mobile phone, as this means you are likely to be waiting longer)
  • pay attention to any unusual sounds or strange vibrations in your car – if you think something is wrong then slow down until you can find a safe place to stop and seek advice

If you breakdown on the road:

Off the motorway:

  • stop the car to the far left of the road, away from any moving traffic if you can, and put your hazard lights on
  • get out of the passenger side of your vehicle (or whichever side is away from the moving traffic) and put up the orange warning triangle about 50m behind the vehicle – only do this if it is safe to do so
  • if there are adult passengers or you can get help from fellow motorists then try to push your car off the road
  • call for a recovery vehicle – only call 999 if you are in danger or causing a hazard
  • leave the passenger door unlocked, so that if you feel it is necessary you can get back into the vehicle quickly
  • wait for help as far off the road as possible – this goes for everyone, even a lone woman, because you are more likely to be hit by a car than assaulted, but if you do feel threatened then go back inside the car and lock the doors
  • DON’T accept a lift from a stranger

On the motorway:

  • try to steer onto the hard shoulder and turn your hazard lights on
  • switch on your sidelights in low-light conditions, but turn them off if your battery starts to run down
  • get out of the passenger side of car, put on reflective vest and place your orange warning triangle at least 50m behind your car
  • leave the passenger door unlocked, so that if you feel it is necessary you can get back into the vehicle quickly
  • even if you have a mobile with you, it is generally best to use one of the roadside SOS telephones in orange boxes because they are connected to a motorway police call centre where they can pinpoint your exact location and if you want they will contact your motoring organisation
  • if you like you can contact your breakdown service provider directly, just to be certain they know your situation
  • blue and white marker posts decorated with arrows will show you where the nearest SOS phone is
  • while you and any passengers are waiting to be rescued it is best for you to sit on the grass verge above the hard shoulder because sometimes distracted drivers will hit stopped cars
  • if you break down on the right-hand lane of the motorway and can only get to the central reservation, call 999 and your breakdown service provider
  • Only cross to the hard should if you are absolutely sure it is safe to do so
  • If you can’t use your mobile phone, or don’t have one, then you will have to wait for a passing motorist to report you or a passing police patrol car to spot you – be prepared for a long wait if this happens

Pets

In any breakdown, if you have pets in the car then when you leave the vehicle it is usually safest to leave the pets in the car with the windows open to allow ventilation but not open enough that your pet can escape – also try to leave your pet with water if you can.