Breaking down is one of the most stressful things that can happen to a driver. Whether you are on a busy motorway, a quiet country road, or stuck outside your home, knowing exactly what to do makes a real difference — both for your safety and for getting back on the road as quickly as possible.
The moment you notice something is wrong — a warning light, a strange noise, a loss of power — stay calm. Switch on your hazard lights immediately to warn other drivers. Do not make sudden movements or brake harshly unless absolutely necessary.
If you are on a motorway, move to the left-hand lane and then onto the hard shoulder or an emergency refuge area if one is available. On a smart motorway without a hard shoulder, aim for an emergency refuge area (ERA) — these are marked with blue signs and an orange SOS telephone symbol. On an A-road or urban road, pull over to the left as far as possible, away from the flow of traffic. Avoid stopping on bends, hills, or near junctions.
On a motorway or fast road, get out of the vehicle on the passenger side (away from traffic) and stand behind the barrier or on the embankment. Do not stand between your car and the traffic. On slower urban roads, it may be safer to stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on and hazards flashing, particularly if you cannot get to a safe area away from traffic.
If it is safe to do so and you have a warning triangle, place it at least 45 metres behind your vehicle on the same side of the road. Do not use a warning triangle on a motorway. Keep your hazard lights on at all times.
Once you are in a safe position, call for recovery. Have your location ready — a road name, junction number, or what3words location if you have the app. Black Eagle Recovery operates 24/7 and can dispatch our in-house recovery team to your location. Call us on 0330 520 1620.
While you wait for recovery, stay behind the barrier or away from the road. Do not attempt to repair the vehicle yourself unless it is something simple and safe like changing a tyre in a safe location. Keep your phone charged and stay in contact with the recovery operator.
If you break down in a live lane on a smart motorway and cannot move to safety, call 999 immediately. Switch on your hazard lights and, if possible, exit the vehicle on the passenger side and stand behind the barrier. The Highways England traffic officers monitor smart motorways and will respond, but calling 999 ensures the fastest response.
Broken down right now? Call Black Eagle Recovery on 0330 520 1620 — we answer 24/7 and will dispatch our in-house recovery team to your location.
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