Recovery Advice
Motorway Breakdown Safety: What You Must Know
Motorways are statistically the UK's safest roads — unless you break down. Here's the safety guide every driver needs.
Thousands of drivers break down on UK motorways every year. While motorways are statistically the safest roads in the country when moving, the hard shoulder is one of the most dangerous places you can be. Knowing the correct procedure could save your life.
As soon as you notice a problem, indicate left and move to the hard shoulder or emergency refuge area. If your vehicle cannot reach the hard shoulder, move as far left in the lane as possible and switch on your hazard lights. Never stop in a live lane unless there is absolutely no alternative.
Once on the hard shoulder, keep your hazards on and move your car as close to the nearside verge as possible. The hard shoulder is not a safe place — drivers fall asleep at the wheel and veer onto it, and HGV tyre blowouts can send debris flying. Every second you are exposed to live traffic is a risk.
Get out of the vehicle from the left (passenger) side. Make sure all passengers do the same. Never open the driver's door into the carriageway. Walk to the embankment and stand well back from the barrier, ideally behind it if possible.
In Smart Motorway sections — which now exist on parts of the M8 and M74 — there is no permanent hard shoulder. Emergency Refuge Areas (ERAs) are marked by orange SOS telephones. If your car is operational, try to reach the next ERA. If not, stop as close to the nearside as possible and call 999 immediately as well as SRL Recovery.
Leave your sidelights on in dark conditions. Do not attempt repairs on a motorway. Do not re-enter your vehicle if you are standing safely outside — wait for recovery.
SRL Recovery covers all motorways through Glasgow: M8, M73, M74, M77, M80. Call 07776 356 556 for immediate dispatch.