Should I take my children out of the car on the motorway?

Yes, in almost all cases. Everyone should leave through the nearside doors and wait behind the barrier, unless leaving would be more dangerous than staying, in which case call 999.

Will a recovery truck take my dog?

Most will, but tell the operator when you call so they can send a suitable vehicle. The dog must be on a lead or in a carrier.

Can the recovery driver carry my whole family?

Only if there is a seat and belt for each passenger, and a suitable child seat where required. Mention the number and ages of passengers when booking.

Should I bring the child seat with me?

Yes, if it releases quickly. You will need it for onward travel, and it is one less thing to retrieve later.

Is it safe to leave a pet in the car while we wait outside?

Not on a warm day and not where the vehicle could be struck. Bring animals out on a lead or in a carrier and keep them behind the barrier with you.

Breaking Down With Children or Pets: A Safety Guide

The general rule and its exceptions

On a motorway or fast dual carriageway, everyone should leave the vehicle through the doors furthest from traffic and wait behind the barrier, up the bank where possible. That applies to children too, even though getting them out takes longer and feels more disruptive than staying put. The exception is where leaving is more dangerous than staying: if there is no barrier and nowhere safe to stand, if traffic is passing very close, or if a passenger genuinely cannot be moved. In that case, stay belted in with hazard lights on and call 999 rather than a recovery line.

Getting children out safely

Unclip the child furthest from traffic first and pass them out through the nearside door. If you have more than one child, keep them holding hands or hold them yourself rather than letting them stand independently near a carriageway. Take the car seat with you if it is quick to release, because you will need it in the recovery vehicle. Once behind the barrier, sit or kneel with the children between you and the barrier, facing away from the road, which keeps them calmer and stops them drifting back towards the car.

Dogs and other animals

A dog must be on a lead before any door is opened. A frightened animal that bolts onto a carriageway is a danger to itself and to every driver passing. Lead the dog out on the nearside and keep it short leashed behind the barrier. Cats, rabbits and smaller animals are safer left in a secure carrier, and the carrier should come with you rather than staying in a vehicle that may be struck. Do not tie an animal to the vehicle or to a barrier and walk away from it.

What to tell the recovery operator

Say clearly, at the start of the call, how many people are with you, that children or animals are present, and their ages or the size of the animal. This changes how the job is handled: many recovery vehicles have limited passenger seating, and legally there must be a seat and belt for every passenger, plus a suitable child seat for younger children. Telling the operator upfront means they can send an appropriate vehicle or arrange onward transport rather than discovering the problem on arrival. Most operators will carry a dog, but they need to know in advance.

Keeping everyone comfortable while you wait

Waits are usually measured in tens of minutes but can be longer at peak times or in bad weather. Coats, blankets, water and a few snacks make an enormous difference with young children, and a torch helps after dark. High visibility waistcoats in child sizes are inexpensive and worth keeping in the boot. On a hot day, shade and water matter more than anything else, particularly for a dog, and animals should never be left in a stationary car in warm weather even with a window cracked open.

Off the motorway

On a quiet residential road or in a car park, the calculation changes. It is often safer and much more comfortable for children to remain in the vehicle with hazard lights on, provided the car is well clear of moving traffic and not on a blind bend. Use your judgement about the specific spot rather than applying motorway rules everywhere. If you are unsure, err towards being further from traffic rather than closer to it.

A small kit that solves most of this

Keep a bag in the boot with a torch, spare hats and gloves, a foil blanket, bottled water, a spare dog lead, wipes and something to occupy a child. Add a portable phone charger, because everything depends on your phone still working. If you regularly carry a child seat, know how to release it quickly, and if you have a second seat at home it is worth knowing whether the recovery operator can fit it. None of this costs much and all of it turns a bad hour into a manageable one.

Frequently asked questions

Should I take my children out of the car on the motorway?: Yes, in almost all cases. Everyone should leave through the nearside doors and wait behind the barrier, unless leaving would be more dangerous than staying, in which case call 999.
Will a recovery truck take my dog?: Most will, but tell the operator when you call so they can send a suitable vehicle. The dog must be on a lead or in a carrier.
Can the recovery driver carry my whole family?: Only if there is a seat and belt for each passenger, and a suitable child seat where required. Mention the number and ages of passengers when booking.
Should I bring the child seat with me?: Yes, if it releases quickly. You will need it for onward travel, and it is one less thing to retrieve later.
Is it safe to leave a pet in the car while we wait outside?: Not on a warm day and not where the vehicle could be struck. Bring animals out on a lead or in a carrier and keep them behind the barrier with you.

Need help now? We are based in Oldbury and dispatch 24/7 across the West Midlands.

Call 07402 666 687

Breaking down with children or pets in the car