Skip advert
Advertisement
Tips & advice

What to do if your car breaks down: advice for motorway and minor road breakdowns

Car trouble is the last thing anyone wants but you still need to be prepared for a car breakdown here’s how...

It doesn’t matter how old you are or how long you’ve been driving, the sensation of a car suddenly slowing down, ebbing power, is one that sparks feelings of frustration, anger and dread. Especially if you’re on the motorway. Finding yourself in a car broken down on any kind of road if bad enough but on the motorway is not fun at all.

Advertisement - Article continues below

That feeling of dread isn’t just because of the impending expense, it’s mainly because you suddenly find yourself stranded and potentially at risk of being stationary when all around are vehicles travelling at high speed. So, what can you do to lessen the danger when you do break down?

Motorway breakdowns

Well, if your car can make it, pulling off at the next junction is the safest option, because it takes you out of harm’s way and onto a piece of road that people will be travelling more slowly on.

If you can’t make the exit and you’re on a motorway with a hard shoulder, pull left onto the shoulder, making sure you stop as far left as possible. Put on your hazard warning lights, then get out of the car through the lefthand doors and move behind the barrier. You can use a mobile to call a breakdown recovery service or walk to the nearest motorway emergency phone, the bollards at the edge of the tarmac will point you in the direction of the nearest one.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Then it’s just a case of wrapping-up warm and waiting for help to arrive. Any pets should be left in the car, in case they escape and run on to the motorway. Even if you have a warning triangle, it is too dangerous to use it on the motorway, so leave it where it is in the boot.

Smart motorway breakdowns

The advice differs slightly if you’re unfortunate enough to break down on a smart motorway. For a start, try to make it to an emergency refuge area; these will contain an emergency phone that you can use to call the control centre. Even in the refuge area, take care when exiting your car, and if possible get out on the left-hand side.

Advertisement - Article continues below

If you can’t get to a refuge area, however, try to get into the left-hand lane of the motorway, as close to the barrier as possible and put on your hazard flashers as you slow down and stop. If it’s safe to do so, get out of the left-hand side of the vehicle and get over the barrier, but do not get out of the right-hand side doors.

In some cases it could be too dangerous to get out of the vehicle, due to traffic conditions or the fact that you’re stranded in a live lane. In this case, you must remain in your vehicle with your hazards flashing. Keep your seatbelt on and dial 999, letting the operator know where you are and in which direction you are heading.

Re-joining the Motorway

If a breakdown service is able to get your car running again, you then face the issue of re-joining the motorway. This is less of an issue on a traditional motorway with a hard shoulder, because you should have plenty of space to get up to speed before re-joining the main carriageway. However, a smart motorway with all-lane running doesn’t allow for this, so either the Highways Agency will set the gantry signs to a red X, which signifies a closed lane for you to accelerate on, or a Traffic Officer will follow you as you get up to speed, with all their warning lights ablaze.

Breakdowns on other roads

Breaking down elsewhere can be just as fraught as doing so on the Motorway. If your car’s broken down on a country road, you need to get it as far over to the left-hand side as possible, obviously taking care not to get stuck on a soft verge or in a ditch. You must also ensure it remains as bright as possible, so keep your lights on and activate the hazard warning lights.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

At this point it would be a good idea to get everyone who is travelling in the vehicle to put on a high-visibility jacket or tabard, if you have them, and stand away from your stricken vehicle. Such tabards typically cost less than £7 at either a high-street outlet such as Halfords, a motor factor or an online seller. A high-vis jacket or tabard is usually included in a typical breakdown pack, which will also contain a torch, a warning triangle, a tow rope, gloves and jump leads. At around £30, these are well worth the investment for the peace of mind they bring.

Place a warning triangle at least 50 metres behind the car to give approaching motorists more time to react safely.

Break down cover

If you find yourself in a car broken down at the side of the road, that investment in roadside breakdown cover will feel like money very well spent indeed. So, all you need do is follow all the advice contained here, call the breakdown service and wait. And wait. They’re usually quite busy.

However, if you don’t have breakdown cover there’s still no need to panic, because most services will allow you to join immediately if you’re stranded at the side of the road. If this doesn’t appeal you could call a local garage, but they will likely charge a call-out fee as well as a per-mile recovery charge.

Calling a mate with a tow rope should never really be an option. Towing on the motorway is restricted to only the shortest distances, such as moving a car on to the hard shoulder, and being towed elsewhere is fraught with risk; if the car ahead stops suddenly, you simply won’t be able to when you’re at the end of a tow rope, turning a bad situation into a terrible one.

The best way to cope with a breakdown, no matter where it occurs, is to already be prepared for a breakdown. Make sure you have a breakdown kit, including high-vis clothing for everyone in the car, plus breakdown cover already sorted. In winter, ensure you have warm clothing in the boot, and snacks and drinks to keep everyone nourished while awaiting rescue. That way you’ll be in an inconvenient situation, but not a dangerous one.

Read our guide on car warranties and cover

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Transferring a private number plate: a guide to moving registration plates from car to car online
MINI number plate change

Transferring a private number plate: a guide to moving registration plates from car to car online

Need to know how to transfer a private number plate between vehicles? Our step-by-step guide breaks it down
Tips & advice
26 Sep 2024
Car exhaust smoke: what do the different kinds and colours of smoke mean?
Car exhaust emitting grey smoke

Car exhaust smoke: what do the different kinds and colours of smoke mean?

Is your car suffering from a smoky exhaust? Our troubleshooting guide tells you what could be the cause and what you need to do to fix it
Tips & advice
24 Sep 2024
How to tell the DVLA you’ve sold your car
'For sale' sign on car windscreen

How to tell the DVLA you’ve sold your car

You must tell the DVLA if your car's off to a new owner, and here's how...
Tips & advice
19 Sep 2024
A little bit of car DIY can save you a lot of money
Opinion - DIY

A little bit of car DIY can save you a lot of money

Senior content editor Shane Wilkinson believes that getting your hands dirty will help keep your bank account looking pristine
Opinion
19 Sep 2024

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: award-winning Hyundai Kona Electric for £188 per month is simply phenomenal
Hyundai Kona Electric - front corner left

Car Deal of the Day: award-winning Hyundai Kona Electric for £188 per month is simply phenomenal

A former Auto Express Car of the Year for less than £200 a month is our astounding Deal of the Day for 30 September
News
30 Sep 2024
All-new Renault 4 E-Tech appears in first official pics ahead of October 14 reveal
Renault 4 teaser 1

All-new Renault 4 E-Tech appears in first official pics ahead of October 14 reveal

The baby electric SUV will be unveiled at the 2024 Paris Motor Show, and will arrive in showrooms sometime in 2025
News
1 Oct 2024
New Skoda Elroq arrives as the Enyaq’s smaller EV brother
Skoda Elroq - front

New Skoda Elroq arrives as the Enyaq’s smaller EV brother

The Skoda Elroq is the Czech brand’s second all-electric car, joining the larger Enyaq in the range
News
1 Oct 2024