With cars travelling at high speeds, breaking down on a motorway can be a dangerous and stressful situation. That’s why it’s really important you follow advice designed to keep you and your passengers safe.
Reducing the chance of motorway problems
In order to help reduce the risk of a breakdown or running into trouble on a motorway, National Highways recommends:
- Staying within the speed limit
- Keeping left unless you’re overtaking
- Checking that your vehicle is safe and roadworthy before you travel
- Making sure you have enough fuel for your journey
- Planning for breaks
- Not driving when you’re tired
It’s also recommended that you keep the following items in your car:
- Spare warm clothes
- A hi-vis jacket (for each person in the vehicle)
- A torch
- Breakdown cover details
And if you’re going on a long journey, you should also include:
- Any medication you need
- A fully-charged mobile phone
- Plenty of food and water
What to do if you break down
Sadly, no amount of car maintenance or preparation can guarantee you won’t run into a problem on a motorway or Smart motorway.
So, here’s what you need to do if you break down:
Motorway breakdown advice
If you break down on a motorway, National Highways recommends you go left, and get to a hard shoulder if you can.
If you can’t get to the hard shoulder and safely exit your vehicle:
- Keep your hazard lights and seatbelts on
- Call 999 for help
If you can get onto the hard shoulder, here’s what you need to do:
- Turn on your hazard lights (and sidelights if visibility is poor).
- Make sure you and any passengers leave the vehicle. Use the left doors to avoid the busy road.
- If possible, get everyone well behind a safety barrier.
- Call your local highways agency or the police and tell them what’s happened. You can use a nearby emergency phone to get through to them directly.
Once you’ve done these steps, you can get in touch with your breakdown cover provider.
Smart motorway breakdown advice
The steps are similar for Smart motorways, but they don’t always have a hard shoulder. You’ll find orange ‘Emergency Refuge Areas’ for you to stop in if you break down.
So, if you break down, go left and get to your nearest Emergency Area.
If you can’t get to an Emergency Area and safely exit your vehicle:
- Keep your hazard lights and seatbelts on
- Call 999 for help
If you can get to an Emergency Area, here’s what to do:
- Turn on your hazard lights (and sidelights if visibility is poor).
- Make sure you and any passengers leave the vehicle. Use the left doors to avoid the busy road.
- If possible, get everyone well behind a safety barrier.
- Call your local highways agency or the police and tell them what’s happened. There should be a phone in the Emergency Refuge Area that will get you through to them directly.
Once these steps are done, contact your breakdown cover provider.
Important safety advice to remember
- Don't stop your vehicle to help someone else that’s broken down or been involved in a collision. You may feel you want to help, but it’s safer to call National Highways on 0300 123 5000 or 999 for assistance.
- Only use an Emergency Area or hard shoulder in an emergency.
- Never put out a warning triangle on a motorway or attempt any repairs on your vehicle (as passing traffic could collide with your vehicle).
- Keep well away from moving traffic and your own vehicle. Stay behind a safety barrier where possible and if it’s safe to do so.
- If you’re on a verge, be aware of any unseen hazards such as uneven ground or debris.
