Breakdowns and Incidents

Disabled drivers. If you have a disability that prevents you from following the above advice, you should switch on your hazard warning lights, stay in your vehicle and keep your seat belt on, call 999 immediately and ask for the police.

Pull into an emergency area or onto a hard shoulder if you can. Stop as far to the left as possible, leaving space to exit your vehicle and with your wheels turned to the left.

Vehicles carrying dangerous goods in packages will be marked with plain orange reflective plates. Road tankers and vehicles carrying tank containers of dangerous goods will have hazard warning plates.

Help other road users see you by wearing light-coloured or fluorescent clothing in daylight and reflective clothing at night or in poor visibility.

DO NOT attempt repairs on your vehicle or place a warning triangle on the carriageway.

On other roads, you should only remove obstructions if it is safe to do so.

DO NOT return to your vehicle even if it’s raining, cold or dark. Keep passengers away from the carriageway and children under control.

Warning signs or flashing lights. If you see emergency or incident support vehicles displaying flashing lights in the distance, be aware there may be an incident ahead. You should slow down and be prepared to move safely into another lane or stop.

If you do not give your name and address at the time, report it to the police as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours.

Be aware that hard shoulders provide less protection than other places of relative safety because they are so close to high-speed traffic.