A motorway breakdown can happen without warning. Whether your vehicle develops an engine problem, suffers a puncture or loses power, knowing what to do next can help protect you, your passengers and other road users.
This guide explains what to do if you break down on a motorway with a hard shoulder, a motorway without a permanent hard shoulder, inside an Emergency Area or in a live traffic lane. It also covers tyre blowouts, electric vehicles, children, pets and motorway roadworks.
Call 999 immediately if your vehicle has stopped in a live motorway lane and you cannot reach a safer place.
What should you do if you break down on a motorway?
- Try to leave the motorway at the next junction or pull into a motorway service area.
- If that is not possible, move onto the hard shoulder or into an Emergency Area.
- Switch on your hazard warning lights.
- Stop as far to the left as possible and turn your front wheels towards the verge.
- Leave the vehicle through a left-hand door when it is safe to do so.
- Move behind the safety barrier and stay well away from the vehicle and traffic.
- Call your breakdown provider or use an orange SOS telephone.
- Call 999 if you are stranded in a live lane or are in immediate danger.
| Where your vehicle stops | What to do |
|---|---|
| Near a junction or service area | Leave the motorway if your vehicle can still be driven safely. |
| Hard shoulder | Stop as far left as possible, leave through the left-hand doors and wait behind the barrier. |
| Emergency Area | Stop within the marked area, leave safely and use the SOS telephone before rejoining. |
| Live traffic lane | Switch on your hazards and call 999 immediately. Leave only when you can reach a safe place without entering a live lane. |
| Roadworks | Follow the same safety principles, but be alert to narrow lanes, temporary barriers and unusual traffic flows. |
Contents
- Breaking down on a motorway with a hard shoulder
- Breaking down without a permanent hard shoulder
- What to do if you stop in a live lane
- How to use a motorway Emergency Area
- How to use an SOS telephone
- How to identify your motorway location
- Children, pets and passengers with limited mobility
- What to do after a motorway tyre blowout
- What to do if an electric vehicle breaks down
- Breaking down in motorway roadworks
- What not to do during a motorway breakdown
- How to prepare before a motorway journey
- Frequently asked questions
Breaking down on a motorway with a hard shoulder
If your vehicle develops a problem but can still be driven safely, move into the left-hand lane and try to leave at the next junction or enter a motorway service area. Avoid stopping on the motorway unless it is an emergency.
If you must stop on the hard shoulder, take the following steps.
1. Move left safely
Signal left, reduce your speed progressively and move onto the hard shoulder when it is safe. Do not brake suddenly unless you need to avoid an immediate collision.
Park as far to the left as possible, leaving enough space to open the left-hand doors. Try to stop near an emergency telephone when possible.
2. Make the vehicle visible
Switch on your hazard warning lights. In poor visibility or at night, also use your sidelights. A high-visibility jacket can make you easier to see, but you should not put yourself at risk by walking near moving traffic.
3. Turn the wheels towards the verge
Apply the parking brake, switch off the engine and turn your front wheels towards the verge. This can reduce the chance of the vehicle being pushed into a live lane if it is struck from behind.
4. Leave through the left-hand doors
When it is safe, everyone should leave through a door on the left-hand side of the vehicle. Do not use doors next to live traffic.
Move behind the safety barrier and stay well away from the carriageway. Where possible, stand behind your vehicle rather than directly alongside or in front of it.
5. Call for assistance
Contact your breakdown provider using your mobile phone or its app. Give your motorway, direction of travel and location as accurately as possible.
You can also use a free orange SOS telephone. These connect directly to the relevant road control centre and automatically identify the telephone’s location.
Breaking down on a motorway without a permanent hard shoulder
Some motorway sections do not have a permanent hard shoulder. If your vehicle begins to develop a fault, try to leave the motorway at the next junction or enter a motorway service area.
If you cannot leave the motorway, look for an Emergency Area. These are set back from the carriageway and are marked by blue signs featuring an orange SOS telephone symbol. The stopping area usually has orange-coloured surfacing and an emergency telephone.
Do not stop in an Emergency Area for a rest, to make a routine phone call or to check directions. It is reserved for emergencies and breakdowns.
What to do if your vehicle stops in a live motorway lane
A live-lane breakdown is an emergency. If your vehicle cannot reach the hard shoulder, an Emergency Area, a junction or another place of relative safety, follow these steps.
- Switch on your hazard warning lights immediately.
- Keep your seat belt fastened while you assess whether it is safe to leave.
- Call 999 and tell the operator that your vehicle is stationary in a live motorway lane.
- Give your motorway, direction of travel, nearest junction and any location-marker information you can see.
- If you are in the left-hand lane and can leave directly onto a verge or behind a barrier without entering another live lane, exit through a left-hand door.
- If you cannot reach a safe place without crossing or entering a live lane, stay inside with your seat belt fastened and wait for instructions from the emergency services.
National Highways may close the affected lane by displaying a red X on overhead signs. A red X means the lane is closed and drivers must not enter or continue in it.
Never attempt to place a warning triangle behind a vehicle on a motorway.
How to use a motorway Emergency Area
Once you have entered an Emergency Area:
- Stop as far to the left as possible.
- Switch on your hazard warning lights.
- Apply the parking brake and switch off the engine.
- Leave through the left-hand doors when it is safe.
- Move behind the barrier or to the designated safe waiting area.
- Use the orange SOS telephone to contact the control centre.
Do not leave an Emergency Area and rejoin the motorway without first contacting the control centre through the SOS telephone. Staff can check traffic conditions, close a lane where necessary and explain how to rejoin safely.
How to use a motorway SOS telephone
Orange SOS telephones are positioned beside hard shoulders and inside Emergency Areas. Marker posts beside the motorway may carry arrows showing the direction of the nearest telephone.
Using an SOS telephone is free and connects you directly to the responsible control centre. The operator will know the telephone’s location, but you should still explain:
- what has happened;
- whether your vehicle is in a live lane;
- whether anyone is injured or unable to leave the vehicle;
- how many adults and children are travelling;
- whether you have pets with you;
- your vehicle’s make, model, colour and registration;
- whether the vehicle is petrol, diesel, hybrid or fully electric.
How to identify your location on a motorway
Giving an accurate location can help assistance reach you more quickly. Look for the following information.
Driver location signs
Driver location signs are small blue signs positioned beside many motorways. They normally display the motorway number, a letter showing the carriageway and a distance reference.
Marker posts
Small roadside marker posts can also carry location references and arrows pointing towards the nearest emergency telephone.
Junction and direction
Tell the operator the last junction you passed, the next junction shown on signs and your direction of travel. For example: “M25 clockwise between junctions 8 and 9.”
Phone location
A breakdown-provider app, map application or your phone’s location-sharing feature may help identify your position. However, a roadside location sign or SOS telephone can provide a more precise motorway reference.
What should you do with children, pets and vulnerable passengers?
Travelling with children
Keep children under close supervision and move them behind the safety barrier as quickly and calmly as possible. Young children should be carried where practical, and no child should be allowed to stand near the vehicle or carriageway.
Travelling with pets
Pets should normally remain secured inside the vehicle unless you can remove them safely and keep them fully controlled. A frightened animal can escape into moving traffic, placing both the animal and road users at serious risk.
Tell the emergency operator or breakdown provider that an animal remains inside the vehicle, particularly during hot weather.
Passengers who cannot leave the vehicle
A passenger may be unable to leave because of a disability, injury, illness or limited mobility. In that situation, they should remain inside with their seat belt fastened while you contact 999 or use the SOS telephone. Tell the operator immediately that someone cannot get out.
National Highways offers a free sunflower for people with a non-visible disability who may need additional support during a roadside emergency.
What to do if you have a tyre blowout on a motorway
A sudden tyre failure can make a vehicle pull to one side, vibrate or become difficult to control. Your priority is to keep the vehicle stable and reach a safer place.
- Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands.
- Try to keep the vehicle travelling in a straight line.
- Avoid sudden steering movements.
- Do not stamp on the brake unless it is necessary to prevent a collision.
- Ease off the accelerator and allow the vehicle to lose speed progressively.
- When the vehicle is stable and it is safe, signal and move towards the hard shoulder, an Emergency Area or another place of relative safety.
- Switch on your hazard lights and follow the normal motorway breakdown procedure.
Do not attempt to change a tyre on the hard shoulder or beside a live motorway lane. Wait for professional assistance and allow the vehicle to be moved to a safer location.
How to reduce the risk of tyre failure
- Check tyre pressures before a long journey and when the tyres are cold.
- Inspect each tyre for cuts, cracks, bulges and embedded objects.
- Check that the tread meets the legal minimum across the central part of the tyre.
- Do not exceed the vehicle or tyre load limits.
- Use the correct tyre pressure when carrying passengers, luggage or towing.
- Have unexplained pressure loss or vibration inspected before travelling.
What to do if an electric vehicle breaks down on a motorway
The immediate safety procedure is the same for an electric vehicle as it is for a petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicle: reach a safe stopping place, switch on the hazard lights, leave safely where possible and call for assistance.
If the battery is running low, reduce unnecessary energy use and leave the motorway or enter a service area before the remaining range becomes critical. Do not continue until the vehicle stops in a live lane.
When calling for assistance, make it clear that the vehicle is fully electric or hybrid. Recovery procedures can vary by model, and some electric vehicles should not be towed with their driven wheels on the road. Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s guidance and leave recovery to a trained operator.
Do not touch exposed cables, damaged battery components or leaking fluids following a collision. Move away from the vehicle and call 999 if you notice smoke, fire, unusual heat, sparks or a strong chemical smell.
What if your vehicle breaks down in motorway roadworks?
Motorway roadworks may have narrow lanes, temporary barriers, reduced visibility and no direct access to a hard shoulder. Traffic may also follow an unfamiliar layout.
If your vehicle can still be driven safely, follow signs towards an emergency stopping place or leave the works at the next available exit. Do not stop unnecessarily.
If the vehicle stops:
- switch on your hazard warning lights;
- call 999 if you are obstructing a live lane;
- do not leave the vehicle if doing so would place you in a live lane or leave you trapped between traffic and a temporary barrier;
- keep seat belts fastened if you must remain inside;
- follow instructions from the police, road workers or National Highways Traffic Officers.
Where free recovery is operating through roadworks, it will usually move the vehicle to a designated place of relative safety. It is not necessarily a full breakdown service or onward recovery to your home or chosen garage.
What should you never do after a motorway breakdown?
- Do not attempt roadside repairs. Opening the bonnet, inspecting a tyre or working beside the vehicle places you dangerously close to traffic.
- Do not place a warning triangle on a motorway. Walking along the carriageway or hard shoulder exposes you to unnecessary danger.
- Do not stand between your vehicle and moving traffic.
- Do not cross the motorway.
- Do not remain inside a vehicle on the hard shoulder when you can leave safely.
- Do not leave children or uncontrolled pets beside the road.
- Do not ignore a red X. It means the lane is closed.
- Do not try to reverse along the hard shoulder or inside an Emergency Area.
- Do not rejoin the motorway from an Emergency Area without contacting the control centre.
How to prepare before a long motorway journey
A few checks before travelling can reduce the likelihood of a breakdown and make an emergency easier to manage.
| Check | What to do |
|---|---|
| Tyres | Check pressure, tread and general condition, including the spare where fitted. |
| Fuel or charge | Start with enough fuel or battery range and plan appropriate stops. |
| Oil and coolant | Check levels according to the vehicle handbook. |
| Warning lights | Investigate persistent warning lights before setting off. |
| Breakdown cover | Save the provider’s number or install its app. |
| Mobile phone | Carry a charged phone and an in-car charging cable or power bank. |
| Visibility | Carry high-visibility clothing for the driver and passengers. |
| Passengers | Plan how children, older passengers, disabled travellers and pets will be moved or supported. |
| Journey information | Check traffic conditions, weather and planned roadworks before leaving. |
Motorway breakdown checklist
- Move to a safer place whenever possible.
- Switch on your hazard warning lights.
- Stop as far left as possible.
- Leave through the left-hand doors when safe.
- Wait behind the safety barrier.
- Call your breakdown provider or use an SOS telephone.
- Call 999 immediately if you stop in a live lane.
- Never attempt repairs or place a warning triangle on a motorway.
Motorway breakdown FAQs
Should I stay inside my car after breaking down?
If you are safely on a hard shoulder or inside an Emergency Area, leave through the left-hand doors and wait behind the barrier where possible. Stay inside with your seat belt fastened if leaving would force you into a live traffic lane or you cannot get out because of illness, injury or disability.
Who should I call after a motorway breakdown?
Call your breakdown provider when you are in a place of relative safety. Use an orange SOS telephone to contact the road control centre. Call 999 immediately if your vehicle is in a live lane, someone is injured or there is an immediate danger.
Can I use my mobile phone during a motorway emergency?
You can use a handheld phone once you are safely parked. If you must call 999 while still in a live lane, use a hands-free system where possible. A handheld phone may be used to call 999 or 112 in a genuine emergency when it is unsafe or impractical to stop.
Should I put a warning triangle behind my car?
No. You should never use a warning triangle on a motorway because placing it would require you to walk dangerously close to fast-moving traffic.
Can I change a tyre on the hard shoulder?
No. Changing a tyre on the hard shoulder is extremely dangerous. Call for professional assistance and wait behind the safety barrier while the vehicle is recovered or moved to a safer location.
What is a motorway Emergency Area?
An Emergency Area is a dedicated stopping place on a motorway without a permanent hard shoulder. It is marked by a blue sign with an orange SOS telephone symbol, usually has orange surfacing and includes a telephone connected to the road control centre.
Can I stop in an Emergency Area for a break?
No. Emergency Areas are only for emergencies and breakdowns. Use a motorway service area for rest breaks, phone calls, food or toilet facilities.
How do I rejoin the motorway from an Emergency Area?
Use the SOS telephone before attempting to leave. The control centre can check traffic conditions and may arrange additional protection. Follow the operator’s instructions and do not reverse out of the area.
What does a red X mean on a motorway?
A red X means the lane beneath it is closed. You must move into an open lane as soon as it is safe and must not continue driving in the closed lane.
Official motorway safety guidance
For authoritative information, read the Highway Code rules for breakdowns and incidents and National Highways motorway safety guidance.
This article provides general road-safety information. Always follow instructions from the police, emergency services, National Highways and your vehicle manufacturer.
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