How to handle a breakdown Situation
What should I do if I break down at the roadside?
How to handle a breakdown – If your vehicle breaks down, stay calm and act quickly to ensure your safety. First, try to pull over to a safe location, ideally a lay-by or the hard shoulder if on a motorway. Turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers. If it’s safe, exit the vehicle on the passenger side and wait behind a barrier away from traffic. Don’t attempt repairs on the roadside. Call for breakdown assistance and give clear details about your location. At Motor Bridge, we always recommend keeping a breakdown kit in your car and knowing who to contact in an emergency.
Broken Down? Here’s What to Do – A Motor Bridge Guide
At Motor Bridge, your safety is our priority. If your vehicle breaks down at the roadside, we want to show you how to handle a breakdown – follow this simple, step-by-step guide to stay safe and get the help you need.
![✅]()
Step 1: Stay Calm and Take Control
The first thing to do is stay calm. Take a deep breath and assess your surroundings. If possible, switch on your hazard warning lights straight away to alert other drivers.
![✅]()
Step 2: Pull Over to a Safe Spot
Try to steer your vehicle as far to the left-hand side of the road as possible.
Aim for a lay-by, verge, or hard shoulder if you’re on a dual carriageway or motorway.
Avoid stopping on bends, junctions, or in the flow of traffic.
On smart motorways? Look out for an Emergency Refuge Area (ERA) they’re marked with orange signs every 1.5 miles or so.
![✅]()
Step 3: Make Yourself Visible
Leave your hazard lights on.
If it’s dark or visibility is poor, also switch on your side lights.
Pop on a high-vis vest if you have one, safety first.
![✅]()
Step 4: Exit the Vehicle Safely
Only exit if it’s safe to do so, and always use the left-hand (passenger) side.
Make sure all passengers exit the same way.
Move everyone to a safe location away from the road, ideally behind a safety barrier.
Important: Keep pets secured inside the vehicle unless there’s a direct risk to their safety.
![✅]()
Step 5: Use a Warning Triangle – But Only When Safe
Never use a warning triangle on a motorway.
On quieter roads, place it at least 45 metres (147 feet) behind your car on the same side of the road.
Only do this if you can walk back safely.
![✅]()
Step 6: Call for Help
It’s time to get help on the way. Call your breakdown assistance provider or use your emergency breakdown cover contact.
If you don’t have a phone signal and you’re on a motorway, look for an emergency phone (located at 1-mile intervals and typically orange, look out for directional arrows on posts, these will show you the nearest one).
![✅]()
Step 7: Give Your Location Clearly
Make it easy for help to find you:
Use location signs on motorways or mile markers.
Use GPS, your smartphone’s map app, or the what3words app.
Tell them which road, direction, and any nearby landmarks.
![✅]()
Step 8: Wait in a Safe Place
Do not stand between your vehicle and the traffic.
Stay behind a barrier if one is available.
If it’s too dangerous to leave the car, stay inside with your seatbelt fastened and doors locked.
![✅]()
Step 9: When Help Arrives
Always confirm the identity of the breakdown service provider.
Let the professionals handle the situation—do not attempt repairs at the roadside unless you’re trained and it’s completely safe.
Motor Bridge Tip: Keep a Breakdown Kit On Board
How to handle a breakdown at the roadside – we recommend keeping the following in your vehicle:
Hi-vis vest
Warning triangle
Torch
Phone charger
First aid kit
Blanket and water
Your breakdown membership/contact details
Need Reliable Breakdown Cover?
Find out more about 24/7 roadside assistance, nationwide recovery, and emergency support packages.
Disclaimer:
While we strive to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the information we provide, it is intended for general guidance only. We make every effort to keep our content current and correct, but we cannot guarantee that all information is free from errors or omissions. Therefore, we accept no responsibility for any loss, damage, or inconvenience caused as a result of reliance on material found on this platform. Always consult official sources or professional advice where appropriate.
