Breaking down while on the road can be a scary, stressful, and frustrating experience. This is something that most motorists will experience at least once, and it is important that you know what steps to take for safety, to prevent disruption for other road users and so that you can get back on the road before long. Read on to learn the main steps to take if you break down.
Remain Calm
One of the most important steps to take is to remain calm. It is easy to panic, especially if this is the first time that you have broken down, but you need to keep your cool and consider other road users. Most of the time when a car breaks down it is nothing too serious, but you still need to prioritise safety and know how you can get help.
Pull Over
If you are able to, you should pull over to the side of the road at the first safe opportunity. This will take you away from a potentially dangerous situation as well as prevent you from holding up other motorists. You need to make sure that you pull over somewhere that is highly visible to other road users and put your hazard lights on. You should then move all passengers behind the crash barrier and wear high visibility jackets if you have them in the car. If you are unable to pull over and your car has died in the middle of the road, then you need to put your hazard lights on and call the police immediately.
Contact Your Breakdown Cover
All motorists should have breakdown cover for protection from a trusted provider with motor trade insurance in place if their vehicle breaks down. This is cover that will provide roadside assistance in this situation so that you are not stranded on the side of the road. Once you are safely out of harm’s way, you should then contact your breakdown cover and give them your policy details (you should always keep these in the glovebox). You should give them an accurate location (you could use a maps app on your smartphone if you are unsure) and provide as much information as possible, including the issue that you are having with the car and who you have in the car with you. If you are unable to make a call, there are SOS phones every mile on the motorways.
Most motorists will break down at some point, and it is important that you know what steps to take in this situation. It can be a stressful and scary experience to go through, but you need to know what steps to take so that you can stay safe, prevent disruption to other road users and get back on the road as soon as possible.
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