Emergency Handling and Breakdowns

A place of relative safety on a motorway.

A service area or emergency area.: A place of relative safety is where you and your vehicle are less likely to be at risk from moving traffic, such as a service area or emergency area on the motorway.

Action if you have a breakdown and are unable to exit the motorway near a free emergency telephone.

Stay in your vehicle and call the police immediately, asking for help.: If you cannot exit the motorway near a free emergency telephone, stay in your vehicle and call for help. Do not attempt to fix the vehicle or walk to the telephone.

The safest place to stop on motorways and high-speed roads.

At a service area.: Service areas on motorways are designed for stopping safely and provide better protection than other stopping locations.

An option that is NOT considered a place of relative safety.

A busy street.: A busy street is not a place of relative safety, as it poses a higher risk from moving traffic compared to lay-bys or emergency areas.

Action after stopping on the hard shoulder.

Keep well away from your vehicle and moving traffic.: To ensure safety, it is important to keep a safe distance from both your vehicle and oncoming traffic to avoid accidents.

Reason hard shoulders are considered less safe than other stopping areas.

They are too close to high-speed traffic.: Hard shoulders provide less protection because they are adjacent to high-speed traffic, increasing the risk of collision.

Action if you cannot reach a designated stopping area.

Try to pull over as far to the side as possible.: If unable to reach a designated stopping area, pulling over as far to the side as possible minimizes the risk to you and your passengers from oncoming traffic.

Priority if your vehicle breaks down.

Thinking of all other road users.: The safety of other road users should be the primary concern when handling a breakdown to prevent accidents.

Recommended action with your vehicle during a breakdown, if possible.

Get it off the road.: Moving your vehicle off the road reduces the risk of obstructing traffic and causing further accidents.

Method to warn other drivers if your vehicle is causing an obstruction.

Turn on your hazard warning lights.: Hazard lights alert other road users that your vehicle is stationary and may pose a hazard.

Correct placement of a warning triangle if your vehicle breaks down.

At least 45 metres (147 feet) behind your vehicle.: A warning triangle should be placed behind your vehicle to give approaching traffic ample warning of the hazard.

Action if it is dark or visibility is poor.

Keep your sidelights on.: Keeping sidelights on helps other road users see your vehicle in low visibility conditions.

Where you should NOT stand if your vehicle has broken down.

Between your vehicle and oncoming traffic.: Standing between your vehicle and oncoming traffic puts you at risk of being hit by an approaching vehicle.

Action if a safety barrier is available after a breakdown.

Get behind the safety barrier.: Getting behind a safety barrier helps protect you from moving traffic, but remain aware of potential hazards.

Advised action if conditions are uncomfortable (like rain or cold) after a breakdown.

Stay away from your vehicle.: Even in adverse conditions, it is safer to remain away from your vehicle to avoid injury.

Action if you cannot exit your vehicle after a breakdown.

Call and ask for the police.: Calling the police ensures you receive immediate assistance while remaining safe inside your vehicle.

Where you should NOT place a warning triangle after a breakdown.

On the carriageway.: Placing a warning triangle on the carriageway can create additional hazards for yourself and other road users.

Steps a disabled driver should take if they cannot follow standard emergency procedures after a breakdown.

Switch on hazard warning lights and stay in the vehicle with the seat belt on.: Staying in the vehicle with the hazard lights on increases safety by alerting other drivers while keeping the occupant protected inside.

When approaching emergency or incident support vehicles displaying flashing lights in the distance.

Slow down, be prepared to move into another lane or stop if necessary.: The rule advises drivers to slow down and be prepared to move safely or stop when emergency or incident support vehicles are ahead. This ensures the safety of the personnel working on the scene.

Focus when passing the scene of an incident on the road.

Remain alert for hazards and focus on the road ahead.: Drivers should stay focused on the road to avoid causing further incidents or collisions due to distraction.

Action if involved in an incident or collision and needing to give assistance.

Put on high-visibility clothing if available and call the emergency services.: Wear high-visibility clothing to enhance your safety and call emergency services as soon as possible to provide details about the incident.

Correct action if an injured motorcyclist is involved in a crash.

Only remove the helmet if it is essential and you are trained to do so.: Removing a motorcyclists helmet can cause further injury unless absolutely necessary, and only trained individuals should do so.

Required action if involved in a collision causing damage or injury to another person, vehicle, or property.

Stop immediately, exchange information, and report to the police within 24 hours if necessary.: The law requires stopping at the scene, exchanging information with involved parties, and reporting the incident to the police if you fail to give your details at the time of the collision.

Action in case of an incident involving a vehicle carrying dangerous goods.

Call emergency services and keep well away from the vehicle.: Dangerous goods vehicles pose a high risk, and its crucial to stay away, call emergency services, and avoid using mobile phones near the vehicle, especially if its carrying flammable loads.

Action if involved in a collision and not providing your name or address at the scene.

Report it to the police as soon as possible, within 24 hours.: If you do not exchange your name and address at the time of the collision, you must report the incident to the police within 24 hours.

Action required if another person is injured in a collision and you do not provide your insurance certificate on the spot.

Provide the certificate to the police within seven days.: If you do not show your insurance certificate at the scene, you must provide it to the police within seven days if another person is injured in the collision.