Why is it dangerous to stay in your car when you break down?

Breaking down at the roadside is a stressful experience. Not only might you be thinking about the expense of repairs, but you may also have to wait a considerable amount of time for your breakdown provider to arrive and help.

While you probably have a lot to think about already if you break down, there’s one crucial thing to remember - and it’s not to stay in your car. Let’s talk about why.

Staying safe during breakdowns

When you break down, your car becomes a collision risk for other vehicles. Even if it’s off the road, such as on the hard shoulder, it can still be possible for other cars to collide with your stationary vehicle accidentally. This is a large part of why you should make sure you’re as far away as possible.

Not only could you be seriously hurt if you’re inside your car and someone crashes into it, but you could also be hurt if you’re standing near to it when a collision happens. Your car could be shunted forwards and hit you, or parts of it could become unattached on impact and hurt you.

Assessing the risks

It’s important to think about where a collision risk is most likely to come from. So, for example, if you break down on the motorway, then traffic is likely to be approaching from behind you. Do what you can to make your car as visible as possible to people approaching from the rear, before getting as far away from the road as possible. If there’s a roadside verge or bank, then move as far up it as possible. If there’s a small roadside barrier, climb over this and then move further away from the road if you can.

If you’re on a motorway and don’t have your mobile phone when you break down, you can use the emergency phones on your side of the carriageway to call for help. Not sure which direction to head? Check out the arrows on the posts at the back of the hard shoulder; these can guide you in the direction of the nearest phone.

If you’re on a quieter road, where traffic may be approaching from both sides, find the safest spot away from the road and await help. Keep aware of traffic at all times, and, if safer, exit your car using the passenger door in order to avoid putting yourself in the path of oncoming traffic.

Prevention is the best bet

While a breakdown is sometimes unavoidable, there are steps that you can take in order to minimise the risk as much as possible. As well as reducing the risk of breakdowns, regular servicing can also help prolong the lifespan of your car or van - keeping you safe on the road for longer.

Book in for a service today, or chat to one of our experts if you have any concerns about your vehicle.