Motorway Breakdown Advice
Thousands of people each year breakdown on the UK's motorways and with the holiday season approaching the motorways will be full of travellers seeking the summer sun. This article will look at some of the precautions and advice in the event that you are unlucky enough to breakdown on one of the UK's motorways this year.
If you are travelling on the motorway and notice any problem with the car that is effecting movement you are advised to signal left and pull off the motorway. If you can reach the next exit and leave the motorway safely then this is always advised due to the dangers related to motorway breakdown. If it is not possible to leave the motorway then you should pull onto the hard shoulder when it is safe to do so, be sure to pull as far away from the motorway lanes as possible.
Once you have safely pulled onto the hard shoulder you should exit the car safely. This is best done via the passenger door but if this is not possible be sure to check that the way is clear before leaving the drivers door. If you are travelling with children be sure to remove them from the off side of the car, reducing the risk to your family and other road users. Once you have left the car make sure that all doors are locked and the car secure.
The next thing to do is locate a phone box, which are located along all UK motorways. The nearest location of these phone boxes are indicated by arrows on the motorway markers. If possible use the phone boxes provided as they give the emergency services your exact location and allow a swift response by breakdown services. If you are a single parent travelling with children it can be safer to use a mobile phone to contact your breakdown provider. This will minimise the risk to your family by removing the practise of walking your children down the hard shoulder to the nearest emergency phone. Be sure if using a mobile phone that you can provide accurate details of your position.
Once you have contacted the appropriate breakdown provider or emergency service you should not re-enter the vehicle. You and your passengers should move as far away from the motorway lanes up the embankment as possible whilst still keeping the car in site. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of motorway vehicles crossing onto the hard shoulder and colliding with your car.
When the breakdown vehicle arrives the operator will advise you on the problem with your vehicle. If the vehicle has to be towed then let the experienced operator do their job and advise you about the relative safety issues. If your car is repaired on the road side then make sure when leaving the hard shoulder that you have gained enough speed and the inside lane is free of traffic before doing so.
A few handy items to carry in your car in the event of a breakdown are warm clothes, walking shoes, a torch, sun cream and water.
To avoid large recovery costs you are advised to have breakdown cover from one of many UK suppliers. You could talk to your car insurance company as a lot of brokers now offer free breakdown recovery with selected motor insurance policies.
