Common Problem

Broken Down On The Motorway

A motorway breakdown carries real risk from passing traffic — the steps you take in the first few minutes matter more here than almost anywhere else.

If you can reach the hard shoulder

1. Pull as far left as possible, ideally with the wheels turned away from the carriageway.
2. Turn on hazard lights immediately.
3. Exit the vehicle from the passenger side only — never the side facing traffic.
4. Get behind the safety barrier if there is one, well away from the vehicle and the carriageway.
5. Do not attempt to fix the car or place a warning triangle on the motorway itself.

If you can't reach the hard shoulder

If you've broken down in a live lane and cannot move, keep your seatbelt on, hazard lights on, and call 999 immediately — this is treated as an emergency. On smart motorways, look for the nearest emergency refuge area (marked with orange signs) if you can safely reach one before stopping.

Once you're safe, call for recovery

Give us your location using the small blue marker posts found every 100 metres along the hard shoulder, which show the motorway name and distance — this is the fastest way for us to find you exactly.

Frequently Asked Questions