How to…Safely breakdown on the motorway
According to a survey conducted by Direct Line Breakdown, in October 2005, more than a million drivers had broken down on the motorway during the previous 12 months. This resulted in more than 94,000 collisions or near misses. Figures from road safety charity Brake, show that of these collisions, 250 people are killed on the motorway hard shoulder every year.
If you do break down on the motorway it is vital you know what to do to avoid becoming another casualty statistic.
If your car develops a fault, then try to exit the motorway or pull into a service station and call your breakdown recovery provider.
If you can’t do this then pull onto the hard shoulder stopping with the wheels turned to the left away from the traffic.
Park as close to the left as possible and try to stop near an emergency phone. Blue and white marker posts show the direction of the nearest phone. Phones connect you directly to the police control centre and are numbered so you can be located.
Put on the hazard lights to warn other drivers you are there.
Do not attempt to repair the car yourself on the hard shoulder and do not put out your red triangle if you have one.
You must never wait in your car. One in ten motorway smashes happen to cars parked on the hard shoulder.
Police research shows that it can take as little as ten seconds after stopping on the hard shoulder for a vehicle to be hit by passing traffic. If your car breaks down on the hard shoulder exit the car on the left hand side. Walk off the road and climb over the barrier. Make your way up the embankment if there is one.
If one of the passengers in the car has severe mobility problems and cannot be removed, only then should they wait inside the vehicle with the seatbelt securely fastened and all doors locked.
You must never stop on the hard shoulder unless you breakdown, in an emergency or you are instructed to do so by the police. Doing so otherwise is dangerous and you may be fined. Map reading, asking for directions and urinating may all get you into trouble with the police.
As well as making sure your car is roadworthy before you start your journey, it makes sense to always be prepared for breakdowns.
Keep your mobile phone charged up
Keep a map in the car
Put an emergency kit in the car including a torch, warning triangle, warm coat, blanked and high visibility vests.
Vispack, a new road safety packed just launched has been designed for families breaking down in these circumstances. The pack contains five high-visibility reflective vests, information card and roadside information, priced £16.95. For more information about this, visit: www.drivershub.co.uk