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Steer out of the travel lane to the nearest safe place only if you can do so without creating more danger. Turn on your hazard lights when the car is obstructing or presenting a hazard, keep people away from moving traffic, and call the local emergency service if anyone is injured, there is a fire or immediate danger, or the vehicle is stopped in a live lane. Once you are safely positioned, arrange roadside assistance or recovery rather than trying to diagnose the car in an exposed spot.
Procedures vary by country and road type. The instructions below distinguish U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advice from the UK Highway Code and National Highways guidance; emergency numbers, warning-device rules and motorway procedures are not universal. Follow local road-authority instructions wherever you are.
What to do first when your car breaks down
Your first task is to get people out of immediate danger, not to work out what has failed. A car that still responds to steering or power may be moved toward a shoulder, refuge, exit or other safe place, but do not continue driving if the vehicle is unsafe or make a maneuver that puts you or others at greater risk. The UK Highway Code says to get the vehicle off the road if possible. Its advice is specific to the UK, but the underlying decision is practical anywhere: move clear of traffic only when it is safe to do so. UK Highway Code: Breakdowns and incidents.
- Keep control. Avoid abrupt steering or braking. If the car is losing power or behaving unpredictably, use the response it still has to reach the nearest safe stopping place, if possible.
- Make the situation visible. Switch on hazard lights when appropriate under local rules, especially if the stopped vehicle obstructs traffic or presents a hazard. Do not assume hazards make it safe to remain in a live lane.
- Protect passengers. Do not send anyone into a live roadway or stand between the disabled car and approaching traffic. If there is immediate danger, use the local emergency number.
- Once safe, summon help. Use roadside assistance or breakdown recovery for a non-emergency breakdown. Give the responder an exact location and report any immediate hazards.
If the vehicle cannot be moved out of a live lane, treat the situation as an emergency rather than attempting a roadside repair. The right place to wait depends on road layout, traffic exposure, barriers and local authority directions; no single rule about staying inside or getting out is safe for every road.
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What do I do if my car breaks down on the highway?
On a highway or motorway, traffic speed and limited escape space make improvisation especially risky. Do not cross lanes, walk along the carriageway, or leave the vehicle to place a warning device where doing so would expose you to traffic. Follow instructions from the road authority, police, emergency operator or recovery service.
If you are in the United States
NHTSA’s general advice emphasizes carrying an emergency roadside kit and checking conditions before a trip; NHTSA’s guidance does not establish one nationwide rule for where occupants should wait after every type of breakdown. Use local emergency procedures and road-authority instructions for the specific roadway. Do not treat a warning device or roadside kit as permission to stand in an unsafe location. State and local requirements can differ.
If you are on a UK motorway
The UK Highway Code gives specific motorway instructions. In the applicable breakdown scenario, it directs occupants to remain in the vehicle with seat belts fastened; where it is safe and appropriate to leave, move behind a safety barrier and stay away from both the vehicle and traffic. Follow the Code’s directions for the situation rather than applying a blanket “always stay in” or “always get out” rule. It also says never to place or retrieve a warning triangle on a motorway. Read the relevant Highway Code breakdown and incident rules.
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National Highways distinguishes a breakdown that can be handled by recovery from an emergency requiring police, fire or ambulance. Its guidance describes eCall for emergencies and bCall or phone contact for breakdown recovery. These are UK procedures, not a universal description of vehicle SOS systems. National Highways eCall SOS guidance.
Should you stay in the car if it breaks down?
It depends on where the car stopped and what local instructions say. Consider whether you are exposed to moving traffic, whether there is a barrier or other protected area, whether the vehicle is in a live lane, and whether leaving would require stepping into traffic. Do not make passengers exit into a live roadway. If the car is in immediate danger or stopped in a live lane, contact emergency services and follow the operator’s instructions.
For the UK motorway situation described by the Highway Code, occupants should stay belted in the vehicle in the applicable scenario; where directed and safe to leave, they should get behind a safety barrier and remain away from the car and traffic. Do not return to the vehicle in a situation where the Code instructs you to remain in the protected area. Elsewhere, do not assume the UK rule applies: use the local road authority’s advice and the instructions given by responders.
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Wherever you are, do not stand between your car and approaching traffic to warn drivers, inspect damage or wait for help. The UK Highway Code explicitly warns against that position. On a motorway, it also prohibits warning triangles; on other roads, check local rules before using one. Its 45-metre (147-foot) triangle distance applies to the specific UK instructions for roads where a triangle is appropriate, not to motorways. Check the Highway Code’s breakdown guidance.
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Choose by the danger, not simply by whether the car needs help. Emergency services handle immediate threats; a recovery provider handles a vehicle that is safely stopped and needs assistance. In the UK, National Highways describes emergency eCall when police, fire or ambulance are required, and bCall or phone contact for recovery. The Highway Code’s motorway emergency procedure identifies 999; do not use 999 as a global emergency number. Use the emergency number for your location.
| Situation | Who to contact | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Injury, fire, immediate danger, or a vehicle stopped in a live lane | Local emergency services; in a UK motorway emergency, follow the Highway Code’s 999 procedure. National Highways describes eCall for emergencies requiring police, fire or ambulance. | Call promptly, report the danger and exact location, and follow the operator’s instructions. |
| Vehicle is safely out of the travel lane, with no immediate emergency | Roadside assistance or breakdown recovery. In the UK, National Highways describes bCall or phone contact for recovery. | Request recovery and explain the vehicle’s location, condition and any hazards that may affect access. |
Do not delay an emergency call while trying to reach a recovery provider if people are at risk or the vehicle is creating an immediate danger. Conversely, a routine mechanical problem after reaching a safe position is generally a recovery request, not a reason to summon emergency responders. The emergency-versus-recovery distinction is described in National Highways’ eCall guidance; follow the equivalent local procedures elsewhere.
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How to give responders your location
A precise location can save time and help responders approach from the correct direction. Tell the call handler or recovery provider what road you are on, which way you were travelling, and the nearest exit, junction or recognizable landmark. Also describe the vehicle by type and color when useful, and mention whether it is in a live lane, on a shoulder, beside a barrier, or creating another hazard.
- On a UK motorway: look for a motorway marker post or driver location sign if you can identify it safely. The Highway Code says to quote the letters and numbers shown on the sign or post. Do not walk into traffic to find one.
- On another road: give the road name or number, direction of travel and nearest exit, junction, town or landmark. If you are unsure of the exact point, say so and give the best details you have.
- On a route with a vehicle SOS or roadside-call function: use it only in line with its instructions and local procedures. National Highways’ explanation of eCall and bCall applies to its UK context; do not assume another vehicle’s SOS button contacts the same service.
- At any location: describe immediate risks such as smoke, fire, an obstruction or a passenger needing urgent help. Do not put yourself in danger to gather extra details.
Wait safely and avoid roadside repairs in an exposed place
After making the call, keep occupants away from moving traffic and stay alert to vehicles and debris. Do not inspect underneath the car, change a tire, retrieve luggage or attempt a repair in a position exposed to traffic. A roadside kit can support preparation, but it cannot make a hazardous roadside task safe.
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Give responders space to reach the vehicle and follow their instructions, including any directions about where to wait or whether to move. On UK motorways, observe the Highway Code’s specific directions on seat belts, safety barriers and not returning to the vehicle in the applicable scenario. On other roads and in other countries, use the instructions for that roadway rather than assuming the same waiting position is safest everywhere.
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Prepare a car emergency kit before travelling
NHTSA recommends carrying a roadside emergency kit because even a well-maintained vehicle can break down. Its Summer Driving & Road Trip Tips page says: “Even a well-maintained vehicle can break down, so it’s recommended to put together an emergency roadside kit to carry with you.” Its suggested contents include communication, lighting, warning, vehicle-support and basic survival supplies. Check local restrictions on warning devices, and use kit items only when it is safe to do so.
- Communication and visibility: cell phone and charger, flashlight, flares and a white flag.
- Basic vehicle support: jumper cables, tire-pressure gauge, jack and ground mat, work gloves, basic repair tools, duct tape and extra windshield-washer fluid.
- Personal needs and comfort: first-aid kit, spare clothes, water, paper towels, nonperishable food, drinking water, medicines, maps, and emergency blankets, towels or coats.
A list is a starting point, not a recommendation to attempt a repair beside traffic. Keep supplies in a place you can reach safely, and account for the needs of the people who regularly travel in the vehicle. Do not leave essential medicines or a phone charger behind because a vehicle seems well maintained.
Check the car and route before a long trip
NHTSA recommends checking tires for damage at least monthly and before long trips. It also advises checking weather, road conditions and traffic before setting out. A pre-trip check cannot guarantee that a breakdown will not happen, but it can help you spot a problem and plan for conditions that could make stopping more difficult. See NHTSA’s summer driving and road-trip guidance.
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Prepare separately for winter conditions
For winter trips, NHTSA’s suggested supplies include a phone and charger, food, water, medicine, blankets, a flashlight, jumper cables and warning devices. If a vehicle stalls in wintry weather, follow the agency’s specific stalled-vehicle guidance rather than improvising in cold, snow or near exhaust. Its Winter Weather Driving Tips page covers vehicle preparation and winter driving. The summer kit list and winter list overlap, but the winter advice should guide decisions specific to cold-weather exposure.
Know the rules where you drive
Emergency numbers, warning-device use, motorway procedures and duties toward stopped vehicles vary by country, state and road type. Check the applicable road authority’s guidance before a trip, especially if you will drive across borders. Do not carry a rule from one jurisdiction into another simply because the road looks similar.
For U.S. drivers, NHTSA’s “Move Over: It’s the Law” page states that all 50 states require drivers to move over and slow down for emergency vehicles with flashing lights. The same NHTSA page, described as current in 2026, says 19 states and Washington, DC, include additional categories of vehicles with flashing or hazard lights in the Move Over rules it summarizes. These are NHTSA’s reported figures, not a substitute for checking the law where you are driving; the additional categories and requirements can vary. NHTSA: Move Over, It’s the Law.
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