Move the vehicle out of active traffic if you can do so safely, switch on the hazard lights, and call for help with an exact location. On a motorway or other high-speed road, stay buckled inside when leaving the vehicle would put you closer to moving traffic. If you can reach a protected place away from the road without crossing traffic, follow the local road authority’s instructions and wait there. Call emergency services immediately for an injury, fire, immediate danger, or a vehicle stranded in a dangerous position.
The safest choice depends on the road layout, your vehicle’s position, traffic speed, visibility, weather and what is happening around the car. The procedure below turns that decision into clear steps.
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What to do in the first minute
- Steer toward safety if the vehicle can still move. Aim for a service area, exit, rest area, emergency bay, lay-by or other designated stopping place. Do not continue driving if the vehicle is unsafe to control or doing so would worsen the failure.
- If you cannot reach a designated area, get as far from moving traffic as possible. Use the safest available shoulder or emergency area. A vehicle partly in a live lane is an immediate hazard; call emergency services rather than attempting a risky maneuver.
- Turn on hazard lights. Keep them on while the vehicle is stopped where other drivers may approach it. Use headlights in darkness or poor visibility when appropriate, but do not rely on lights to make a dangerous position safe.
- Secure occupants. Tell everyone to remain calm and keep seatbelts fastened while you assess whether getting out is safer than staying inside.
- Call the right service. Use roadside assistance for a routine breakdown. Call the local emergency number first when anyone is injured, the vehicle is exposed to traffic, there is smoke or fire, or another immediate danger exists.
- Give a precise location. State the road or motorway, direction of travel, nearest exit, mile or kilometre marker, emergency-area number, nearby landmark and your phone’s GPS location if available.
Do not walk along a motorway, cross traffic lanes, or leave the vehicle simply to find a telephone. Queensland, Connecticut and other transport authorities specifically warn against turning a breakdown into a second roadside incident.
Which stopping places are safest?
Not every place beside a road offers the same protection. Choose the location that maximizes distance from moving vehicles, gives you room to stop completely and lets you reach help without crossing traffic.
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| Stopping place | Relative safety | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Service area or rest area | Usually the best option on a high-speed road when reachable without driving a dangerous vehicle. | Park fully in a marked space or designated breakdown area, switch on hazards if needed, and wait away from traffic. |
| Exit, petrol-station area or other off-road location | Preferable to a shoulder if the vehicle can reach it safely and the route does not require crossing live lanes. | Follow signs and stop where vehicles are separated from through traffic. |
| Emergency area, lay-by or hard shoulder | Provides some separation but remains close to fast traffic. UK Highway Code guidance describes emergency areas and lay-bys as places of relative safety and notes that hard shoulders offer less protection. | Stop as far from the traffic lane as the surface allows, use hazards and follow local instructions about staying inside or exiting. |
| Wide roadside or ordinary shoulder | Safety varies with width, barriers, visibility and traffic speed. | Keep the vehicle fully out of the lane if possible. Treat the location as hazardous and call for assistance. |
| Live traffic lane, blind curve or crest | Extremely dangerous. | Call emergency services immediately. Do not attempt roadside repairs or walk around the vehicle. |
Road design and local law differ. A shoulder that looks broad in daylight may leave occupants exposed at night, beside a barrier, or on a high-speed bend. If you cannot move without losing control or entering another lane, stay put, make the vehicle visible and ask emergency services to protect the scene.
Should you stay in the vehicle or get out?
There is no universal answer. Decide whether the cabin or the area outside provides more protection from the immediate hazard.
Stay inside when traffic is the greater danger
- Keep seatbelts fastened, especially on a motorway or freeway.
- Remain in the vehicle if the shoulder is narrow, traffic is close, visibility is poor, or you would have to cross a lane or walk along the road.
- Keep doors closed and occupants away from the traffic-facing side where practical.
- Use hazard lights and call roadside assistance or emergency services with your exact location.
Connecticut’s Department of Transportation states that staying in the vehicle with the seatbelt fastened and pulling as far off the road as possible is the best protection when the vehicle is a safer place than the roadside. Massachusetts guidance similarly emphasizes remaining in the vehicle when exiting would expose occupants to traffic.
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- Check mirrors and traffic before opening a door.
- Use the side away from moving traffic whenever possible.
- Move well clear of the roadway and get behind a safety barrier if there is a safe route to it.
- Do not stand between the vehicle and the traffic lane, and do not cross the road.
- Take children, older adults and anyone with limited mobility to the protected area together; do not leave someone beside the vehicle alone.
NSW Government advice supports exiting on the side away from traffic and waiting behind a barrier when that route is safe. The barrier is not a reason to cross lanes or climb over hazards; if reaching it requires exposure, remain buckled in the vehicle instead.
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Leave immediately for fire or another direct threat
Smoke, flames, fuel leakage, a risk of explosion or another immediate danger changes the calculation. Get everyone away from both the vehicle and travel lanes using the safest available route, then call emergency services. Connecticut’s “Stay In Your Car” campaign makes the same fire exception: staying inside is not appropriate when the vehicle itself is unsafe.
How to call roadside assistance effectively
A dispatcher can send help faster when the location and hazard are unambiguous. Prepare the following information before the call connects:
- Road identity: motorway, freeway, route number or street name.
- Direction: northbound, southbound, eastbound or westbound; include the carriageway or ramp.
- Exact reference: mile or kilometre marker, exit number, emergency-area identifier, nearest intersection or landmark.
- Vehicle description: colour, make, model, registration and whether it is fully off the lane.
- Condition: flat tyre, mechanical failure, collision, no fuel, locked-out vehicle or unknown fault. Say if the vehicle cannot roll.
- People and hazards: number of occupants, injuries, children, smoke, fire, leaking fuel, darkness, poor weather or fast traffic.
- Contact details: a callback number and whether your phone battery is low.
Keep the phone available for a callback, but do not stand outside to improve reception. If the vehicle is in a dangerous position, tell the roadside provider that emergency services are also needed. Massachusetts guidance recommends using GPS, roadside markers, a nearby exit or rest area to establish the location. Connecticut advises calling 911 when the vehicle cannot be safely removed from the road.
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When the vehicle can still move
Signal early and travel only as far as necessary to reach a service area, exit or designated emergency stopping place. Avoid sudden lane changes, hard braking and stopping on a curve or just beyond a crest. If the vehicle’s steering, braking, tyres or engine condition makes continued travel unsafe, stop at the first place that provides the greatest separation from traffic.
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When you are on a shoulder or emergency area
Position the vehicle as far from the traffic lane as the surface permits, without striking a barrier or driving onto unstable ground. Turn on hazard lights, keep occupants belted and use the local motorway emergency phone if one is available and can be reached without exposure. The UK Highway Code identifies service areas as the safest motorway stopping place, followed by lay-bys, emergency areas and hard shoulders; it specifically warns that hard shoulders provide less protection.
When the vehicle is partly in a live lane
Treat the situation as an emergency. Call the emergency number, state the direction and marker, and describe which lane is blocked. Do not attempt to push the vehicle, inspect traffic from outside, or walk to an exit. If authorities instruct you to leave and a protected route exists, follow their directions; otherwise remain buckled and visible inside.
If you can safely leave the vehicle
- Confirm that the exit side is away from moving traffic and that no vehicle is approaching.
- Collect only essential items that are within reach. Do not delay an evacuation to retrieve luggage.
- Close doors after everyone exits so they do not swing into traffic.
- Move behind a guardrail or other barrier, well away from the road, if the path is clear.
- Keep the group together and wait for responders. Do not return to the vehicle unless emergency personnel say it is safe.
NSW guidance says not to change a tyre unless it is safe to do so. A high-visibility vest can help responders see you after you are in a protected location, but putting it on does not make standing beside fast traffic safe.
If you must remain inside
- Fasten every seatbelt and keep passengers seated.
- Turn on hazard lights and, where appropriate, interior lights so responders can identify the vehicle at night.
- Lock doors if doing so does not interfere with emergency escape.
- Keep children and pets away from doors on the traffic side.
- Call for help and monitor instructions. If the vehicle’s condition changes, update the dispatcher.
- If another motorist stops, communicate through a closed window when possible. Do not accept an invitation to stand in the traffic area.
If authorities direct you to leave, follow their route rather than choosing a shortcut across lanes. If no safe exit route exists, tell the dispatcher that you are remaining in the vehicle and describe its position.
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Smoke, fire, collision or medical emergency
Fire or heavy smoke
Call emergency services, stop as far from traffic as possible, and evacuate away from both the vehicle and the roadway. Do not open the bonnet or boot if doing so exposes you to flames or smoke. Do not return for belongings.
Crash or injury
Call the emergency number first. Report injuries, blocked lanes, leaking fuel and any immediate danger. Apply only first aid you can provide without entering traffic or moving an injured person unnecessarily. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions while waiting.
Dangerous location without visible damage
A vehicle stopped on a blind bend, bridge, narrow shoulder or live lane is an emergency even if nobody is hurt. Tell the dispatcher exactly why traffic cannot safely pass. Do not place yourself behind the vehicle to warn drivers.
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Actions that create a second hazard
- Do not walk along or cross a highway to find a phone, fuel or assistance.
- Do not stand in a live lane or between your vehicle and passing traffic.
- Do not change a tyre, open the engine compartment or make repairs unless the location is clearly protected and local guidance says it is safe.
- Do not place flares, warning triangles or other devices in traffic lanes. Connecticut’s state campaign specifically tells motorists not to attempt setting out flares or warning triangles on the highway.
- Do not push a disabled vehicle by hand on a high-speed road.
- Do not accept roadside help that requires you to walk into traffic or leave vulnerable passengers unattended.
- Do not assume hazard lights give you a right of way; approaching drivers may not see the vehicle in time.
What to keep in the vehicle
Preparation helps you communicate and remain visible, but equipment never overrides the basic rule: do not expose yourself to moving traffic.
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- High-visibility vest: Keep it inside the cabin, accessible without opening a traffic-side door. NSW Government recommends one.
- Torch or flashlight: A charged light helps you read markers and signal your location from inside. NSW guidance recommends a torch.
- Emergency kit: PennDOT encourages carrying general emergency supplies suited to the vehicle and season.
- First-aid kit: Ontario’s driver handbook recommends a well-stocked kit for basic care while waiting for responders.
- Charged phone and charging cable: Keep the phone usable for location sharing and callbacks.
- Water and essential medication: These are particularly useful during a long wait, but retrieve them only if doing so does not compromise safety.
A vest, flashlight, flare or triangle cannot make a shoulder safe for walking. Follow the road authority’s instructions for your location and leave warning equipment to trained responders when traffic exposure is significant.
Night, weather and vulnerable passengers
Darkness, rain, fog, snow and high winds reduce the time approaching drivers have to see a stopped vehicle. They also make a shoulder, barrier or drainage area harder to judge. In these conditions, favour remaining buckled inside unless emergency personnel identify a clearly protected route away from traffic. Keep hazard lights on, report reduced visibility to the dispatcher and describe any difficulty that responders will face when locating you.
With children, older adults, disabled passengers or pets, decide in advance who will supervise each person. If exiting is safe, move the group together behind the barrier; if it is not, keep everyone inside and tell the dispatcher who needs assistance. Never leave a child or pet alone beside a high-speed road.
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When help arrives
- Remain visible from a protected position or inside the vehicle, depending on the safety decision you made.
- Follow the responder’s instructions before opening doors or moving around the vehicle.
- Tell the technician or police officer about traffic direction, injuries, smoke, leaking fluids and any failed safety system.
- Keep passengers away from the recovery vehicle, winch line and moving traffic.
- Do not re-enter a live lane until the vehicle has been recovered or authorities confirm that it is safe.
If the roadside provider cannot reach you promptly and conditions worsen, call emergency services again with the updated location and hazard. A routine assistance request should be upgraded when the vehicle becomes exposed to traffic, someone is injured or fire or smoke appears.
Before your next trip
- Know the emergency number for every country or region on your route.
- Check that your phone can share location and that its battery is charged.
- Identify where the high-visibility vest and flashlight are stored before an emergency, not in a luggage compartment blocked by cargo.
- Keep roadside-assistance membership or dispatch details accessible offline.
- Review the vehicle handbook for hazard-light controls, tyre limitations and safe towing points.
- Tell regular passengers the basic rule: stay buckled unless a protected exit is clearly safer, and never cross a motorway.
Official guidance from NSW, Queensland, Pennsylvania, Ontario, Massachusetts, Connecticut and the United Kingdom differs in wording because roads and laws differ. The consistent principle is to maximize separation from moving traffic, remain secured when the roadside is more dangerous than the cabin, and use emergency services whenever the breakdown creates immediate danger.
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