What to Do If Your Car Breaks Down on a Dual Carriageway or Motorway

The first few moments

Switch on your hazard lights straight away so that traffic behind has as much warning as possible. If you can do so safely, move the car as far over to the left as you can, ideally onto the hard shoulder or emergency area if there is one, with your wheels turned to the left. Do not try to cross lanes to reach a better spot.

If the car is still rolling, use the momentum to reach the verge or a lay-by, and brake gently. On some stretches of motorway the hard shoulder has been converted to a running lane, and emergency refuge areas are provided instead. Follow the signs and, if you can reach one, use it.

• Hazard lights on immediately.
• Steer left towards the hard shoulder, emergency area or verge.
• Turn the wheels to the left and apply the handbrake.
• Switch off the engine and, if fitted, leave the keys safely with you.

Getting out and waiting somewhere safe

As a general rule, if the car is stopped in a position where you can safely leave it, get everyone out of the vehicle by the left-hand door, away from the traffic. Current guidance is to leave any animals in the vehicle, or in an emergency keep them under control on the verge. Do not stand between the car and the road.

Move well away from the carriageway, behind the barrier if there is one, and wait up the bank or on the verge, keeping an eye out for hazards such as uneven ground. Children and passengers should be kept together, and in cold or dark conditions, think about warm clothing. A reflective jacket is useful if you carry one.

When it is not safe to leave the car

Sometimes you cannot get to the verge. If you are stuck in a live lane, with no safe way to walk off the carriageway, the general advice is to stay in the vehicle with seatbelts on, keep the hazards on and call the emergency services on 999 so they can bring help and manage traffic.

Do not attempt repairs or checks at the side of a fast road. Do not use a warning triangle on a motorway, as the advice is not to place one on these roads. If you are unsure, the safest course is to prioritise getting people out of harm's way over saving the car.

Calling for help

Once you are somewhere safe, use your mobile to call for help. Make a note of where you are. Motorway marker posts and the numbers on roadside signs help to pinpoint your location, and your phone's map can too. On a motorway, roadside emergency phones connect to the control centre and automatically show where you are.

If you have breakdown cover, call your provider. If you prefer a local firm, a recovery operator can come to you, assess the situation and move the vehicle. At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn we offer breakdown recovery, and when you ring, be ready to give your exact location, what the car is doing, and whether you are in a safe place. Ask what to expect and who the operator will want to speak to.

What to have ready next time

A few preparations make a stressful moment easier. Keep a charged phone, a torch, warm layers, a high-visibility jacket and some water in the car. Know your registration number, make and model, and have your cover details to hand. Before long journeys, check your oil, coolant, tyre pressures and fuel.

Do not ignore early signs. A warning light, a strange noise or a car that feels wrong deserves attention before you set off on a fast road, not after.

Frequently asked questions