Every year, dozens of people are killed and hundreds are seriously injured on UK motorway hard shoulders. Many of these incidents involve people who have broken down and are waiting for recovery. The moments after a motorway breakdown are the most dangerous you will face as a driver. These 10 rules could save your life.
If you feel something is wrong — a loss of power, a warning light, a strange noise — move to the left-hand lane immediately and then onto the hard shoulder or emergency refuge area (ERA). Do not wait until the vehicle stops in a live lane. On a smart motorway without a permanent hard shoulder, aim for the next ERA — these are typically every 1.5 miles.
As soon as you are on the hard shoulder, switch on your hazard lights. This is the most important signal to other drivers that your vehicle is stationary. Keep your hazard lights on at all times — even in daylight.
Always exit the vehicle from the left-hand (passenger) side — away from the carriageway. Even on the hard shoulder, vehicles pass at high speed and the risk of being struck is real. If you cannot exit safely from the passenger side, stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on.
Once out of the vehicle, move behind the barrier or up the embankment — away from the hard shoulder. Do not stand between your vehicle and the carriageway. Do not stand at the rear of your vehicle. The safest place is behind the barrier, as far from the carriageway as possible.
Never attempt to change a tyre, check the engine, or carry out any repairs on the motorway hard shoulder. It is extremely dangerous. Wait for a recovery operator who is trained to work in this environment with the correct equipment and high-visibility clothing.
Call for recovery as soon as you are in a safe position. The sooner you call, the sooner a recovery operator will be dispatched. Black Eagle Recovery operates 24/7 — call 0330 520 1620. Have your location ready: the motorway name, the direction of travel, and the nearest junction or mile marker.
If you have a dog or other pet in the vehicle, keep them on a lead at all times once out of the vehicle. A dog running onto the carriageway is a serious hazard and can cause a fatal accident. If you cannot safely manage your pet at the roadside, it may be safer to keep them in the vehicle.
Children can become frightened and unpredictable in a breakdown situation. Hold their hands firmly and keep them close to you at all times. Do not allow children to run or wander near the carriageway. Keep them behind the barrier.
Once you have exited the vehicle and moved to safety, do not return to the vehicle until the recovery operator arrives and confirms it is safe to do so. Do not retrieve items from the vehicle while it is on the hard shoulder unless absolutely necessary.
If your vehicle has stopped in a live lane on a smart motorway and you cannot move it, call 999 immediately. Do not exit the vehicle — stay inside with your seatbelt on and your hazard lights on. The police will manage the scene and arrange for the carriageway to be closed. Call 999 first, then call recovery.
Broken down on the motorway? Black Eagle Recovery provides 24/7 motorway recovery across London and the South East. Call 0330 520 1620 — we dispatch our in-house recovery team fast.
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