Breakdown useful guidance

Motorway breakdown

Keep yourself, your loved ones and your car safe if you breakdown on the motorway.

• The first thing to bear in mind is that the motorway is not safe for static vehicles - if you can get your car off the motorway and somewhere safer, so much the better
• Make sure that any passengers are safe and don't let children or pets out if you can possibly help it
• Safety is everything, so turn your wheels to the left (the right if you are in Europe), so that if the car rolls it will move away from the traffic

Motorway breakdown: Contacting the police

If you break down on the motorway let the police know straightaway

• If possible, try to stop near an emergency phone - this will connect you with the police immediately and they will be able to locate you very quickly
• People who cannot get to the external phone should use their mobile phone, giving as clear and full a description of their location as possible
• Whichever phone you use to contact the police, always tell them if you're in any way vulnerable, such as a lone female, elderly, disabled or with children

Breaking down abroad: Before you go away

If you are taking your car abroad, breaking down in a foreign country can prove to be a very expensive and stressful business. There are several common sense steps to take before you embark on your journey.

• Get your car fully serviced and most importantly ensure you ask the garage to check your windscreen wipers, brakes, lights and tyres, in fact anything that could prove harder to fix when you're in a foreign country and don't know your way around
• Check your water, oil and tyre tread and pressure levels
• Buy up-to-date maps of the areas, or make sure your sat nav is up to date with the latest map updates for where you'll be travelling, so if you do break down you will be able to direct the rescue vehicle