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Emergency Handling
- 1/15The very first thing you should try to do if your car starts to break down
Safely move your vehicle off the roadway. If possible, steer your car to the side of the road, shoulder, or an emergency lay-by to avoid obstructing traffic and reduce danger. Use your indicators while doing so.
If you cannot move your car off the road
Activate the hazard warning lights. Hazard lights make your stationary vehicle more visible to other road users, alerting them to a potential obstruction.
If a vehicle breaks down when you have passengers in the vehicle
Ensure everyone exits the vehicle from the side away from traffic. Passengers should ideally wait in a safe location away from the road, such as behind a safety barrier if available, especially on a highway.
If you are on a highway, the safest place to wait for, if your vehicle breaks down is
Behind the crash barrier or well away from the hard shoulder. The hard shoulder can still be dangerous due to passing traffic. Moving further away from active lanes significantly increases safety.
Pulled over on a slope and brake fails
Turn them towards the kerb (if downhill) or away from the kerb (if uphill). This, along with applying the parking brake, helps prevent the car from rolling into traffic if the brake fails.
Making your broken-down vehicle more visible
If possible and safe, leave your sidelights or parking lights on. This provides additional visibility for oncoming traffic, especially if your hazard lights are not very bright or fail.
If your bonnet (hood) is smoking
Do not open the bonnet immediately. Opening the bonnet right away if there is smoke or fire can make it worse due to the sudden influx of oxygen. Call emergency services and wait for them if fire is suspected.
Using hazard warning lights
When your vehicle is stationary and causing a temporary obstruction or hazard. This includes breakdowns, accidents, or stopping briefly in a hazardous position. They are not for use while driving in fog or rain.
Avoiding warning triangle
On a motorway (highway) hard shoulder. Walking on the hard shoulder to place a triangle is extremely dangerous due to high-speed traffic. Rely on your hazard lights and position of your vehicle.
Putting on a high-visibility safety vest after a breakdown
Before you exit the vehicle, if possible, or immediately upon exiting. This makes you much more visible to other road users, especially in poor light or bad weather conditions, reducing the risk of being hit.
Storage of safety vests in the car
Store in the passenger compartment (e.g., glove box, door pocket). Storing them in the passenger compartment ensures you can put them on before exiting into a dangerous situation.
If you are carrying passengers and had a vehicle breakdown, it is ideal to wear safety vests for
Everyone who exits the vehicle. It is important for all individuals outside the broken-down vehicle to be as visible as possible to other traffic.
Purpose of the reflective strips on warning triangles and safety vests
To reflect the headlights of oncoming vehicles. This makes them highly visible at night or in low-light conditions, even from a considerable distance.
Usage of hazard lights for illegal parking
Hazard lines cannot be used for illegal parking. Hazard lights are for genuine emergencies and temporary obstructions, not for parking in restricted areas.
You are in a remote area with poor phone signal. To call someone for help, you must
Go to a location with a better signal, if safe, or use an emergency roadside phone. Sometimes moving a short distance or to higher ground can improve signal strength.