Breaking down can be a very stressful experience and can happen to absolutely anyone, no matter how carefully you have maintained your vehicle. Many motorists may naturally become stressed if their vehicle breaks down. However, it is important to keep a cool head and stay calm to make sure that you, and anyone else in your vehicle, remains safe until help arrives. Knowing what to do in advance is half the battle, so here is an overview of the steps to follow.

Move your vehicle to the hard shoulder

The first and most important thing is making sure that your car is out of the way of other vehicles. This can be particularly tricky if you break down on a motorway, as other vehicles are likely to be approaching quickly. Make your vehicle as visible as possible to alert other drivers to the danger by turning on the hazard warning lights, and possibly the sidelights if it is dark, and then drive to the far left of the emergency lane. Make sure that the wheels of your vehicle are facing the grass verge rather than the main carriageway. If you break down on a narrow road such as a country lane, getting your vehicle out of the way can be difficult. In this case look for a grassy siding or if possible a field that you can safely park in until help arrives.

Get everyone out of the vehicle

Make sure that everyone leaves the vehicle by either the front passenger door or the rear passenger door on the right hand side. Stay as far from approaching vehicles as possible when exiting the vehicle. If there are any pets inside your vehicle you should leave them inside, as there is a chance that they may wander into the road and cause a hazard. However, if your animal is fairly calm you may prefer to remove them from your vehicle and keep them on a lead.

Call for assistance

The next step is to call your breakdown service. You will need to provide them with a few important details such as your exact location, your situation and the details of your vehicle. The breakdown service may also want to know the nearest location marker number, as this will help them to pinpoint your exact location. You should have all of this information ready before making the call to make the process as smooth and simple as possible. If you have broken down on the motorway you will usually be given priority, which means that you should not have long to wait before help arrives.

Find a safe place to wait

Stand as far away from the carriageway as possible, preferably on the grass verge that can be found at the side of the motorway.

Other things to bear in mind:

•Do not attempt to make repairs yourself.

•Wear a reflective jacket (if you have one) to make yourself as visible as possible.

•Keep an eye on children to make sure that they do not wander into the road.

•Never stand between oncoming traffic and your vehicle.

•Put on your vehicle’s rear fog lights is visibility is reduced.

Universal Tyres

For more information on how to keep your car prepared as much as possible for this winter, please get in touch with Universal Tyres. We offer a 24 hour tyre breakdown service to all our account customers. Simply call us today for more details.