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If your vehicle breaks down, get it out of active traffic if you can do so safely, switch on the hazard lights and call for help with your precise location. Whether to stay inside or leave depends on which option exposes you to less immediate danger: stay buckled in when getting out would put you near moving traffic; if there is a safe route to a protected place, follow local road-authority or emergency-responder guidance. Call emergency services for an injury, fire, immediate danger or a vehicle stopped in a dangerous position.
First, make the scene as safe as you can
- Keep control of the vehicle. If it can safely continue, aim for a service area, exit or designated emergency stopping place rather than stopping in a traffic lane. If it cannot, use the safest available shoulder or emergency area and move as far from active traffic as you safely can. Do not take a risky maneuver to reach a preferred stopping place.
- Switch on the hazard lights. Do this once stopped, then assess whether the vehicle itself is a safer place to wait than the roadside. Leave them operating while you are stopped if the vehicle’s system allows it and doing so does not create another problem.
- Choose where to wait. If exiting would put you close to moving traffic, stay inside with seatbelts fastened. If you can leave safely and reach a protected place, use the exit farthest from traffic and move well clear of the roadway. Do not cross the road.
- Call for help and give your location. Contact roadside assistance for a breakdown. Call your local emergency number for an injury, fire, immediate danger or a vehicle stopped where it creates a serious hazard.
Road layouts, laws and official advice differ. Follow instructions from local road authorities and emergency responders; the safest choice depends on the vehicle’s position, nearby traffic, barriers and any immediate threat such as fire.
A quick decision sequence
Use this order rather than making several movements at once. First, keep the steering under control and slow without abrupt maneuvers. Second, look for a service area, exit, emergency area, lay-by or other designated stopping place that the vehicle can reach without crossing dangerous traffic or losing control. Third, once stopped, turn on the hazards and identify whether you are fully away from moving lanes. Fourth, decide whether the cabin or a protected location beyond a barrier offers less exposure. Finally, make the appropriate call and remain in the safer position until help arrives.
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Should you stay in the car after a highway breakdown?
There is no single answer for every road. On a high-speed road, getting out can expose you to traffic, so several authorities advise remaining in the vehicle with the seatbelt fastened when leaving is unsafe. If you can safely get away from traffic and reach a protected location, some authorities advise exiting on the side away from traffic and waiting behind a barrier. Use the option that avoids the greater immediate exposure, and follow local guidance.
Stay inside when the roadside is the greater danger
If you cannot safely reach a protected place, remain in the vehicle with your seatbelt fastened, keep the hazard lights on and call for assistance. Connecticut’s Department of Transportation advises drivers to call 911 when a vehicle is not safely off the road. Massachusetts’ Highway Division likewise advises calling 911 first in an emergency. Use the emergency number for your location; 911 is not universal.
Staying inside is particularly important when the shoulder is narrow, traffic is moving quickly, visibility is poor, or a barrier, slope or other feature would require you to walk alongside the roadway. Keep everyone buckled while the vehicle is exposed. If a roadside-assistance provider calls back, answer from the cabin and describe your exact position rather than stepping out to wave at approaching vehicles.
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Leave only when there is a safe route away from traffic
Before opening a door, check the traffic side and choose the exit away from moving vehicles. Move well clear of the roadway and, if it is safely reachable, get behind a safety barrier. Do not walk along traffic lanes or cross the highway to find a phone. A safe place is one you can reach without stepping into traffic—not merely a place that appears farther away.
Once behind a barrier or in another protected area, stay there rather than returning to the vehicle to retrieve items. Keep a phone available, but do not position yourself where you must stand on the shoulder to see the approaching assistance truck. Tell the dispatcher that you are outside the vehicle and identify the side of the road and the nearest marker so responders know where to look.
Fire or another immediate threat changes the decision
Staying inside is not the right choice if the vehicle itself becomes more dangerous than the roadside. Connecticut’s guidance says that if occupants cannot stay in the vehicle because of fire, they should move away from both the burning vehicle and travel lanes, then contact emergency services. Follow instructions from emergency responders.
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Smoke, flames or another immediate danger warrants an emergency call even if roadside assistance has already been requested. Do not open the hood, search for a fire extinguisher or attempt another task if doing so brings you closer to the hazard or traffic. The priority is distance from the vehicle and from travel lanes, followed by clear communication with emergency services.
Where to stop on a motorway or high-speed road
If the vehicle can reach a safer stopping place without creating another hazard, use one rather than stopping beside fast-moving traffic. The UK Highway Code identifies service areas as the safest places to stop on motorways and other high-speed roads when reachable. It also lists lay-bys, emergency areas and hard shoulders as places of relative safety, while noting that hard shoulders offer less protection.
| Stopping place | What the guidance establishes | Practical decision |
|---|---|---|
| Service area | The UK Highway Code describes it as the safest place to stop on a motorway or other high-speed road when reachable. | Choose it if the vehicle can get there safely. |
| Exit or designated emergency area | Queensland guidance recommends moving toward a safer area; the UK Highway Code lists emergency areas among places of relative safety. | Use one if it is safely accessible. On UK motorways, use an emergency-area phone where available and communicate your location clearly. |
| Lay-by | The UK Highway Code lists lay-bys as places of relative safety. | Prefer a designated stopping place to remaining close to moving traffic when you can reach it safely. |
| Hard shoulder or other available shoulder | The UK Highway Code lists hard shoulders as places of relative safety, but says they provide less protection. Other road agencies refer to using the safest available shoulder or emergency area if the vehicle cannot continue. | If you cannot reach a safer place, stop as far from active traffic as safely possible and follow local instructions. |
This comparison reflects the cited UK guidance for motorways and high-speed roads; road terminology, facilities and rules vary by country. A barrier or designated area does not make every approach safe. Do not continue driving or cross traffic to reach one if doing so would create a greater danger.
How to compare two possible stopping places
Consider four questions: Is the place designed for stopping, how far is it from moving traffic, is there a barrier or other protected boundary, and can the vehicle reach it without a risky maneuver? A marked service area generally answers the first three better than an exposed shoulder. An emergency area or lay-by may still be appropriate when it is closer and reachable safely. A hard shoulder is a fallback, not a guarantee of protection; the UK guidance expressly says it offers less protection.
Do not let the label alone decide. A barrier that requires crossing a live lane is not a safe route, and a nearby exit is not useful if the vehicle cannot steer or accelerate reliably. When in doubt, stop at the safest point you can reach without entering another lane and ask the road authority or emergency dispatcher for instructions.
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A precise location can help responders find you, especially where roads look alike or phone coverage is limited. Give the road name or number, direction of travel, nearest exit, mile marker or other roadside marker, and a nearby landmark. If you can safely check your phone’s GPS location, provide it as well. Massachusetts guidance specifically recommends using GPS, mile markers or the nearest exit or rest area to describe your location.
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- Tell the dispatcher which road and direction you are on. Distinguish the direction of travel, not just the road’s name. Include the carriageway or side of a divided road if you know it.
- Give the closest marker or exit. Add a landmark or rest area if that makes the location easier to identify. Read the marker exactly as shown rather than estimating a distance.
- Explain your position and risk. Say whether you are in a lane, on a shoulder, in an emergency area or somewhere else, and whether anyone is injured or there is smoke, fire or another immediate danger.
- Keep the phone accessible while staying in the safer place. Do not walk along or across the highway to get a stronger signal or seek a phone.
- Confirm a callback method. If the service asks for a phone number or a description of the vehicle, provide it while remaining in the safe position. Tell the provider if you have moved behind a barrier so the arriving crew can find you.
If you are in an emergency area on a UK motorway, the Highway Code advises using its emergency phone where available and communicating your location clearly. For an emergency elsewhere, use the local emergency number; use roadside assistance for a non-emergency breakdown.
What to say in the first minute
A useful report can be brief: “I am on [road and direction], near [mile marker, exit or landmark]. The vehicle is [in a lane, on the shoulder or in an emergency area]. [Number] people are present. There is [no injury, an injury, smoke, fire or another danger].” This order gives the dispatcher the location and urgency before details such as the vehicle’s make or the suspected mechanical fault.
What to do while you wait
After the call, keep the situation stable. Remain buckled if you have been told to stay inside, and keep the hazards operating when appropriate. Watch for changing danger from traffic, smoke or the vehicle’s position without opening doors or moving into the roadway. If the dispatcher or police instructs you to relocate, repeat the instruction back so you know which protected location they mean.
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What not to do while you wait
- Do not walk along traffic lanes or cross the highway. A search for a phone, a better signal or help on the other side can expose you to moving vehicles.
- Do not change a tire beside fast traffic unless local guidance says the position is safe. NSW Government guidance cautions against changing a tire unless it is safe to do so. A jack, spare wheel or basic mechanical ability does not remove the traffic risk.
- Do not step onto the highway to place warning devices. Connecticut’s Stay In Your Car campaign specifically tells motorists not to try to set out flares or warning triangles on the highway.
- Do not assume visibility gear makes roadside work safe. A vest or flashlight can help with preparedness, but it does not protect you from traffic or make an unsafe exit safe.
- Do not make a risky detour for a preferred stopping place. A service area is preferable only when it can be reached safely. Crossing lanes, reversing on a motorway or stopping suddenly to reach an exit can create a worse hazard.
- Do not wait in a dangerous position without escalating. If the vehicle remains exposed to traffic, is blocking a lane or develops smoke or fire, update emergency services instead of relying only on a routine roadside-assistance request.
Prepare before a breakdown
Keep basic supplies where you can reach them without first stepping into traffic. NSW Government recommends a high-visibility vest and torch inside the vehicle. PennDOT encourages an emergency kit, and Ontario’s driver handbook recommends a well-stocked first-aid kit.
- High-visibility vest, accessible from inside the cabin.
- Torch or flashlight.
- General emergency supplies and a first-aid kit.
These supplies are for preparedness, not permission to stand beside moving traffic. In particular, do not get out to place a flare or warning triangle on a highway when local guidance says not to. Store the vest and torch where they can be reached from a seated position; putting them in a locked trunk defeats that practical purpose if the trunk opens toward traffic.
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Preparedness also means knowing how your assistance plan works before a trip: keep the provider’s contact method available, know which local emergency number applies, and be familiar with your vehicle’s hazard-light control. These steps reduce the time spent searching for information after a breakdown, but they do not replace the location and traffic assessment at the scene.
Official guidance and what it establishes
Road-safety advice cited here comes from government sources with different road designs and procedures: NSW Government guidance covers safe exits, barriers, a vest and torch; Queensland Government guidance addresses motorways and freeways, hazards, location details and not walking along highways; the UK Highway Code discusses relative safety of stopping places, seatbelts and emergency-area phones; Massachusetts and Connecticut guidance covers emergency calls and location information. PennDOT and Ontario’s driver handbook address emergency supplies and first aid.
Because these authorities operate under different laws and road layouts, their emphasis is not identical. Some stress remaining in the vehicle whenever the roadside is exposed; others describe leaving on the side away from traffic when a barrier or protected area is safely reachable. That is not a contradiction to resolve with a universal rule. It means the vehicle’s position, traffic speed, barriers and immediate threats must guide the decision, together with local instructions.
Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said in a release dated January 27, 2025: “Staying in your vehicle with your seat belt fastened and pulling as far off the road as possible is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones.” That advice applies when the vehicle is the safer place to wait; the same state guidance recognizes fire as a reason to leave and move away from both the vehicle and traffic lanes.
The official sources cited here support practical safety steps and describe qualitative risks. They do not establish a named statistic for injuries or deaths specifically while people wait for roadside assistance, so no numerical personal-risk estimate is included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I stay in my car if it breaks down on the highway?
Stay buckled inside when leaving would put you close to moving traffic or there is no safe route to a protected area. If you can exit on the side away from traffic and reach a barrier without crossing the road, local authorities may advise waiting there instead. Use the option that creates less immediate exposure and follow emergency-responder instructions.
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What should I do if my car breaks down on a motorway?
If the vehicle can safely continue, head for a service area, emergency area, lay-by or exit. If it cannot, use the safest available shoulder or emergency area, move as far from active traffic as possible, switch on hazards and call for help. Do not walk along the motorway or cross it.
Is a service area safer than a hard shoulder?
The UK Highway Code identifies a service area as the safest place to stop on a motorway or other high-speed road when reachable. It lists lay-bys, emergency areas and hard shoulders as places of relative safety, but notes that hard shoulders provide less protection. Never take a risky maneuver just to reach a preferred location.
Should I get out and put out flares or a warning triangle?
Not if doing so requires stepping onto a highway or exposed shoulder. Connecticut’s Stay In Your Car campaign specifically tells motorists not to try to set out flares or warning triangles on the highway. A vest, flashlight or warning device does not make moving traffic safe.
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Give the road name or number, direction of travel, nearest exit, mile marker or other roadside marker, nearby landmark, and your GPS location if you can check it safely. Tell the dispatcher whether you are in a lane, on a shoulder or in an emergency area, and report injuries, smoke, fire or another immediate danger.
Can I change a tire while waiting?
Only if local guidance says your exact position is safe. NSW Government guidance cautions against changing a tire unless it is safe to do so. On a high-speed road, remaining buckled inside or moving to a protected location is often safer than working beside traffic.
When should I call emergency services instead of roadside assistance?
Call the local emergency number for an injury, fire, immediate danger or a vehicle stopped in a dangerous position, such as a live lane or a place where approaching drivers may not see it. Roadside assistance is appropriate for a non-emergency breakdown. The number 911 is not universal, so use the number for your location.
What should I keep in my vehicle for a breakdown?
Keep a high-visibility vest and torch or flashlight where they are accessible from inside the cabin. PennDOT encourages an emergency kit, and Ontario’s driver handbook recommends a well-stocked first-aid kit. These supplies support preparedness but do not make it safe to stand beside moving traffic.
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The Bottom Line
Move toward a designated safe stopping place only when you can do so without a risky maneuver. Otherwise pull as far from active traffic as possible, turn on hazards, stay buckled inside if the roadside is more dangerous, and call with your road, direction, marker and GPS location. Exit only by a safe route away from traffic and behind a barrier; call emergency services for injury, fire, immediate danger or a vehicle in a hazardous position.
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