Breakdowns on motorways

By the end of this topic you can

• You can get a broken-down car onto the hard shoulder safely.
• You can get everyone out on the safe side and wait in a safe place.
• You can call for help and give your exact location.
• You can name the things you must not do after a motorway breakdown.
• You can rejoin the motorway safely.

What you need to know and understand

• Move the car onto the hard shoulder, as far left as possible, and switch on hazard lights.
• Put on a high-visibility vest and get everyone out by the left-hand doors.
• Wait well behind the crash barrier, away from the traffic.
• Never place a warning triangle on a motorway; the RSA says it is too dangerous.
• Use a roadside emergency phone if you can; it connects to the Motorway Operations Control Centre and gives your exact location automatically.
• Do not try to repair the car on the hard shoulder.
• If you cannot get out safely, stay in the car with your seat belt on and hazard lights flashing.

The breakdown routine

1. If the car is still moving, look for a lay-by or exit; otherwise pull onto the hard shoulder as far left as you can.
2. Switch on your hazard warning lights.
3. Put on a high-visibility vest before getting out.
4. Get everyone out through the left-hand doors. Leave animals in the car unless it is an emergency.
5. Go up the embankment side and wait well behind the crash barrier.
6. Call for help, using a roadside emergency phone where possible. If you use a mobile, give your exact location.

Telling them where you are

On a mobile phone you must give your location. Look for the location markers. Upright signs on posts show the road number, direction and distance from the start of the road. Markings painted on the hard shoulder show similar information and point to the nearest emergency phone. In an emergency, dial 999 or 112.

What not to do, and rejoining

• Do not put out a warning triangle on the motorway.
• Do not try repairs, and do not try to remove debris from the road.
• Do not walk along the motorway or let children near the lanes.
• When rejoining, build up speed on the hard shoulder before merging, and watch for stopped vehicles ahead.

Common mistakes

• Stopping in a live lane when the hard shoulder could be reached.
• Getting out on the driver's side, into the traffic.
• Standing beside or in front of the car instead of behind the barrier.
• Placing a warning triangle on the hard shoulder.
• Pulling straight out into lane one from a standstill.

Test yourself: Breakdowns on motorways

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Breaking Down on an Irish Motorway