What to do if you experience a breakdown on a highway?
By Zain Ullah
Breaking down on a highway or motorway is scary as it is, but it can definitely be worse when you have your children in the vehicle. From April 2018 to March 2019 an estimated 224,000 cars broke down on major roads in the United Kingdom. Some cases have ended up much worse than others. Today we’ll be sharing the best course of action to take if you ever do breakdown on a busy road or motorway.
Positioning your vehicle
When experiencing a breakdown on a highway it is highly important to get onto the hard shoulder. Stopping and breaking down on a major lane such as the fast lane or overtaking lane could put you and other road users at serious risk and harms way, especially if the other motorist are travelling around 70mph.
The hard-shoulder is a lane located at the left of the carriageway which can be used for such emergencies, try to aim for this lane when you feel like you have no power or control over your vehicle.
Safety features
Your vehicle is designed and integrated with safety features that could possibly save your life and the life’s of those who are in the vehicle with you. The safety features include hazard indicators, seat belts and an emergency SOS button which can be located above the internal mirror. Once your able to make your way onto the safety lane you must switch on your hazard indicators, this will alert the passing motorist that you have broken down or have stopped for any other reason.
If you haven’t managed to get your vehicle onto the hard shoulder then switch on your hazards and try to get far away from the vehicle as possible. If your a distance away from the hard shoulder then you should aim for the road barrier between the northbound and southbound carriageway, this could also save your life too.
Leave your personal belongings behind as your safety is your number one priority, these things can be purchased again but your safety cannot.
Breakdown cover and emergency services
Once you are successfully out of harms way, you need to work out what junction you are between and which motorway you are on whilst your vehicle broke down. This information is essential and needed so the police or breakdown team know which area you have broken down in.
Depending on the issue with your vehicle, the breakdown repair specialist should be able to fix your vehicle on the spot, however if there is a major issue with your vehicle, be prepared to travel with the recovery expert to the local garage.
Moreover, in the UK an app is available called ‘What 3 Words’ which can be given to police in order for them to find your precise location.
When driving you should always wear your seatbelt which can save your life and those around you.