Should I stay in the car on the motorway?

Only if you cannot get out safely, for example in a live lane. Otherwise get out through the passenger side and stand behind the barrier, which is far safer than staying in a stationary vehicle.

What is a marker post and why does it matter?

It is the small sign at the verge with a number on it, spaced every hundred metres. Reading it to the operator pinpoints you exactly, which is faster than describing junctions.

Do I ring 999 or a recovery firm first?

999 first if you are in a live lane, in danger, or on a smart motorway with no hard shoulder. In every other case, ring recovery.

Can a recovery truck stop on a smart motorway?

It can attend where the control room permits it, and in a live lane situation the lane usually has to be closed first. That is why the emergency services are the first call.

How long will I wait on a motorway?

Motorway jobs are prioritised because of the risk. You will be given an ETA on the call and told honestly if traffic on the route affects it.

Broken Down on the Motorway? Exactly What to Do

While the car is still moving

Get left. Indicate, move across to the nearside and aim for the hard shoulder, the next emergency refuge area, or a slip road if one is close. Hazard lights on as soon as you slow. Momentum is the only thing you have, so use it to reach somewhere safer rather than stopping where the fault happened.

Once you have stopped

Wheels turned to the left, hazards on, sidelights on if visibility is poor. Get everyone out through the passenger doors, away from the traffic, and behind the barrier or up the embankment. Leave pets in the vehicle unless you can control them safely. Do not stand between the car and the traffic, and do not attempt any repair yourself.

If you cannot leave the carriageway

A vehicle stopped in a live lane is the highest risk situation on the network. If it is not safe to get out, stay belted in with hazards on and ring 999 immediately. On a smart motorway the control room can close the lane above you with a red X, and that closure is what protects you, not the hazard lights.

Who to ring, in order

999 first if you are in a live lane or in any immediate danger. Otherwise ring your recovery provider or a local operator directly. Have your location ready: the motorway number, the direction of travel, the last junction you passed, and the marker post number on the small blue or orange sign at the verge. That marker is the fastest way for anyone to find you.

Smart motorways specifically

Where there is no permanent hard shoulder, emergency areas are spaced along the route and marked with orange surfacing and a blue sign. Use the free phone in the emergency area rather than a mobile if you can, because it identifies your location automatically. Never attempt to rejoin the carriageway from an emergency area without help from the control room.

While you wait

Stay behind the barrier. Recovery drivers expect to find people there, not sat in the car. If a vehicle you did not call pulls up and offers to help, you are under no obligation to accept, and you should confirm who they are before agreeing to anything.

Frequently asked questions

Should I stay in the car on the motorway?: Only if you cannot get out safely, for example in a live lane. Otherwise get out through the passenger side and stand behind the barrier, which is far safer than staying in a stationary vehicle.
What is a marker post and why does it matter?: It is the small sign at the verge with a number on it, spaced every hundred metres. Reading it to the operator pinpoints you exactly, which is faster than describing junctions.
Do I ring 999 or a recovery firm first?: 999 first if you are in a live lane, in danger, or on a smart motorway with no hard shoulder. In every other case, ring recovery.
Can a recovery truck stop on a smart motorway?: It can attend where the control room permits it, and in a live lane situation the lane usually has to be closed first. That is why the emergency services are the first call.
How long will I wait on a motorway?: Motorway jobs are prioritised because of the risk. You will be given an ETA on the call and told honestly if traffic on the route affects it.

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

Call 07402 666 687

Broken down on the motorway, what to do