Breakdown What To Do

What to do if you break down.

In this article we’ll talk you through what to do if you break down on a motorway, a Smart motorway, or on another road.

Motorway breakdowns

The following advice is for motorway breakdowns. To see what to do on a Smart motorway, scroll to the next section.

If you can’t get to the hard shoulder or safely leave your vehicle:

• Call 999 immediately
• Keep your hazard lights and seatbelts on

If you’re able to get onto the hard shoulder, here’s what you need to do:

1. Turn on your hazard lights (and your sidelights if visibility is poor).
2. Get everyone out of the vehicle through the left doors and move far away from the road. If possible, get behind a safety barrier.
3. Call your local highways agency to let them know that you’ve broken down on a motorway. If possible, use your nearest emergency phone. Or, call the following number on your mobile:
   • If you’re driving in England, call National Highways on 0300 123 5000.
   • If you’re driving in Scotland, call Traffic Scotland on 0800 028 1414.
   • If you’re driving in Wales, call Traffic Wales on 0300 123 1213.
   • If you’re driving in Northern Ireland, it’s recommended you call the police on 999.
4. After speaking to the highways agency, you can get our help using the app or over the phone.

If you break down on a motorway, never try to fix an issue yourself (even if you’re on the hard shoulder).

If you have any pets with you, National Highways recommends leaving them in the vehicle. This is to prevent them from panicking and suddenly running towards the motorway. If you do take your pet out of the vehicle with you, keep them close-by, under control, and behind the barrier.

Smart motorway breakdowns

Smart motorways often don’t have a hard shoulder. Instead, they have orange ‘Emergency Areas’ for you to stop in.

If you break down, try to move to the left lane and get to your nearest Emergency Area.

If you can’t get to an Emergency Area or if you can’t safely leave your vehicle:

• Call 999 immediately
• Keep your hazard lights and seatbelts on

If you can get to an Emergency Area, here’s what you need to do:

1. Turn on your hazard lights (and your sidelights if visibility is poor).
2. Get everyone out of the vehicle through the left doors and move far away from the road. If possible, get behind a safety barrier.
3. Call your local highways agency to let them know that you’ve broken down on a motorway. If possible, use the phone in your Emergency Area. Or, call the following number on your mobile:
   • If you’re driving in England, call National Highways on 0300 123 5000.
   • If you’re driving in Scotland, call Traffic Scotland on 0800 028 1414.
   • If you’re driving in Wales, call Traffic Wales on 0300 123 1213.
   • If you’re driving in Northern Ireland, it’s recommended you call the police on 999.
4. After speaking to the highways agency, you can get our help using the app or over the phone.

Never try to fix an issue yourself (even if you’re in an Emergency Area).

Just like regular motorways, National Highways recommends leaving any pets in the vehicle. This is to prevent them from panicking and suddenly running towards the motorway. If you do take your pet out of the vehicle with you, keep them close-by, under control, and behind the barrier.

Breakdowns on other roads

Breaking down on quieter roads in towns and cities can still be dangerous. Follow these steps to stay as safe as possible.

Remember, if at any point you’re worried for your safety, call 999.

1. Pull over to a safe place: If you’re able to move your vehicle, get as far away from traffic as you can.
2. Turn on your hazard lights: If it’s dark or if visibility is poor, make sure your sidelights are on as well.
3. Use a red warning triangle: If you have a red warning triangle, place it at least 50 metres behind your vehicle to warn any oncoming traffic that you’re there.
4. Contact your breakdown cover provider: Get in touch with your breakdown cover provider to get help as quickly as possible.
5. Stay in your car and wait for help to arrive: Assuming your car is safely parked away from any traffic, it’s safer to wait in the vehicle. If you don’t know the area you’re in, you may feel safer locking the doors.

For more information about what to do in a breakdown, visit the National Highways website.

There are some simple vehicle checks that can help you prevent a breakdown from happening. Read this article about vehicle maintenance to learn more.