What to do if your car breaks down: A roads and motorways
A warning light comes on and the car loses power on a fast country road. Get yourself and the car somewhere safe.
The short version
- Get off the road if you can. Hazard lights on once you have stopped.
- Wait well away from the car and traffic, never between them.
- Warning triangle 45 m behind on normal roads, never on a motorway. Stuck in a live lane: stay belted in and call 999.
Step 1
Your car is losing power on a 60 mph road. What do you do?
✓ Check your mirror, signal left and get as far off the road as you can. Use the speed you still have to reach a lay-by, a wide verge or a gateway. The further from moving traffic, the safer.
Why not the other options
- ✗ Stop in your lane straight away. Stopping in a 60 mph lane puts you in the path of everything behind. Get off the road if you possibly can.
- ✗ Keep driving until it stops on its own. You may end up stuck on a bend or a narrow stretch. Pick the safest place to stop while you still can.
- ✗ Switch on your hazard lights and keep going at the same speed. You MUST NOT use hazard lights while driving on this kind of road. Indicate left and pull over.
Step 2
You are stopped half on the verge. Traffic is passing close by at speed.
Which lights should you use?
✓ Hazard warning lights, plus sidelights if it is dark or misty. You are an obstruction, which is exactly what hazard lights are for. Sidelights help in poor light.
Why not the other options
- ✗ Full beam headlights. Full beam dazzles oncoming drivers. Hazard lights are the warning.
- ✗ None, to save the battery. Being seen matters far more than the battery. Hazard lights use very little.
- ✗ Right indicator, so drivers pull out round you. A right indicator says you are about to pull out. Use the hazard lights.
Step 3
Where should you and your passengers wait?
✓ Out of the car on the verge side, well away from traffic, never between the car and oncoming traffic. If a vehicle hits your car, you do not want to be in it or beside it. Get out on the side away from traffic and stand well back.
Why not the other options
- ✗ In the car with seat belts on. That is only for when you cannot get out safely, such as a live motorway lane. Here you can get away from the car.
- ✗ Behind the car, waving traffic round it. Standing behind the car puts you between it and the traffic. Never stand there.
- ✗ In the road in front of the car, looking under the bonnet. Stay out of the road. Leave repairs to the breakdown service.
Step 4
You have a warning triangle in the boot. Where does it go?
✓ On the same side of the road, at least 45 metres behind the car. 45 metres gives drivers coming round the bend time to react. Take great care walking back to place it.
Why not the other options
- ✗ On the roof of the car. On the roof it gives no warning until drivers are almost on top of you.
- ✗ A couple of metres behind the bumper. Far too close to give any warning at 60 mph. At least 45 metres.
- ✗ In the middle of the road. That creates a second hazard and puts you in the traffic. Same side as the car.
Step 5
It is getting dark. What should you wear while you wait?
✓ Something reflective, or light and fluorescent in daylight. Drivers need to see you. Keep a hi-vis vest in the car within reach.
Why not the other options
- ✗ Whatever you have on, it does not matter. Dark clothes on a dark verge make you almost invisible.
- ✗ A dark coat so you stay warm. Stay warm, but put something bright or reflective over it.
- ✗ Nothing special, the hazard lights are enough. Hazard lights show where the car is, not where you are.
Step 6
Now imagine this happened on a motorway and you stopped on the hard shoulder.
Should you put the warning triangle out?
✓ No. Never use a warning triangle on a motorway. Walking along a motorway to place it is far too dangerous. Get out on the left, go behind the barrier and call for help.
Why not the other options
- ✗ Yes, 45 metres behind as usual. The 45 metre rule is for other roads. On a motorway, never.
- ✗ Yes, but 100 metres back because traffic is faster. Walking further along a motorway makes it more dangerous, not less.
- ✗ Only at night. Never on a motorway, day or night.
Step 7
On a motorway with no hard shoulder, you have stopped in a live lane and cannot get out safely.
What should you do?
✓ Stay in the car with seat belts and hazard lights on, and call 999. If getting out would put you in moving traffic, staying belted in is the safer choice. 999 can close the lane.
Why not the other options
- ✗ Get out and push the car to the side. Being on foot in a live motorway lane is extremely dangerous.
- ✗ Wait quietly until a traffic officer turns up. Call 999 straight away so the lane can be closed with a red X.
- ✗ Put the warning triangle out behind you. Never place a triangle on a motorway.
The rules behind it
- Rule 275 If you have to stop for a breakdown or incident, try to stop somewhere relatively safe: a car park, service area or lay-by.
- Rule 276 After a breakdown, get off the road if possible, use hazard lights if you are an obstruction, wear something bright, put a warning triangle 45 m behind (never on a motorway) and never stand between your car and traffic.
- Rule 116 Hazard warning lights are for when you are stopped and causing a temporary obstruction. You MUST NOT use them while driving, except briefly on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway to warn of a hazard ahead.
- Rule 277 On a motorway, go left, get out on the side away from traffic and wait well away from the car. If you cannot get out safely, stay in with your seat belt on and call 999.
More situations
Based on the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988 as published on GOV.UK in October 2026, in our own words; follow the links for the full text. Insurance points are common UK insurer policy terms, so check your own policy. This is not legal advice. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.