What to do in the event of a vehicle breakdown
Choosing to invest in a motor vehicle grants you the freedom to experience new places whenever you wish. With this, it also requires a great deal of responsibility to ensure your vehicle remains in top working order and fully functioning at all times. Preparation before you set off for any journey is essential so you know how to deal with the possibility of a breakdown. This article will explain the main points to remember in the event of a vehicle breakdown to prevent any panic or confusion.
Breakdown Cover
Firstly, make sure you have suitable breakdown cover so your issue is resolved quickly and efficiently, ensuring you are up and running again in no time. It is worth checking your current car insurance policy as breakdown cover may already be included – if it is confirmed that you do not have any cover, be sure to purchase it at the earliest opportunity to avoid any expensive call-out rates or dangerous situations on the road.
Be Prepared
According to the Highway Code, it is essential that you consider all other road users first to prevent any accidents or collisions. To do so, you must keep the following essential items in your car at all times in the case of an emergency:
- A road map
- Some coins or a phonecard as you may encounter an area where there is no mobile signal available
- Always have the number of your emergency breakdown provider nearby
- Carry a red warning triangle in your vehicle at all times so you can warn other vehicles of a hazard. This can only be used on quieter roads so do not use on the motorway
- Carry reflective clothing so you can be easily spotted by passers-by in the possibility that you breakdown at night.
What to do if you breakdown
Motorways are one of the most dangerous locations for your motor vehicle to breakdown, so make sure you adhere to the following advice to ensure you cope with the situation calmly and safely:
- Move to the hard shoulder and position your wheels to face the grass verge, avoiding the main carriageway. Activate your hazard warning lights and your car’s sidelights if it is dark to show other drivers you have broken down so they can steer clear of the danger. If you are unable to move your vehicle to the hard shoulder make sure you turn on your hazard warning lights straightaway to alert others on the road.
- Remove everyone from the vehicle safely, staying well out of the way of very fast moving oncoming cars. Unless they can be kept securely on a lead, pets must be left inside the car to prevent them from running off into approaching traffic and causing danger to other drivers.
- Call for assistance. If you are a member of a breakdown service, your provider will ask for the details of your vehicle, the hazardous situation you are in and your location. Further to this, they will ask for the number on the nearest location marker to help find you and alert recovery vehicles in the area so you shouldn’t be waiting too long for someone to reach you. If you do not have breakdown cover, you will need to call the Highways Agency for assistance from your mobile or using one of the free phones located on the hard shoulder. This can be very costly as it is likely they will contact a local garage to come and recover your vehicle.
- While waiting for assistance to arrive, be sure to stay in a safe area and never attempt to fix the problem with your vehicle yourself.
Munster Tyres: car repairs and mobile tyre fitting
As one of the leading tyre companies serving Fulham and West London, here at Munster Tyres we offer first class car servicing and repairs to ensure your vehicle remains in top working order, guaranteeing high performance and safe driving. Further to this, we also offer a mobile tyre fitting service if you suffer a puncture while away from home and do not have a spare tyre. Our specialist mobile tyre service team will reach you as fast as they can to get you back on the road as efficiently and quickly as possible so you are not left stranded for a lengthy period of time! Simply give us a ring or contact us online today for further information.