Car Breakdown: What to Do
Get off the road. Be seen. Keep people away from traffic.
Call 999 or 112 if you cannot get to a place of relative safety, the vehicle is stranded in a dangerous live-traffic position, or anyone is in immediate danger.
Keep the sequence simple.
Get the vehicle off the road if possible. A parking area or lay-by is preferable to stopping close to fast traffic.
Use hazard warning lights if the vehicle is causing an obstruction. Use sidelights in darkness or poor visibility where appropriate.
Do not stand, or allow anyone else to stand, between the vehicle and oncoming traffic.
Use light-coloured, fluorescent or reflective clothing if you have it and can reach it safely.
On a non-motorway road, if it is safe, a warning triangle can be placed at least 45 metres behind the vehicle. Never use one on a motorway.
Contact your breakdown provider once you and passengers are in the safest available position.
- Never place a warning triangle on a motorway.
- Do not attempt a roadside repair where moving traffic makes it unsafe.
- Do not stand between the broken-down vehicle and approaching traffic.
- Do not walk into a live carriageway to retrieve dropped items.
- Replace any safety item used from the car kit.
- Recharge the torch, power bank or jump starter if used.
- Have the underlying fault diagnosed rather than treating recovery as the repair.