Motorway Breakdown Safety
If your car develops a problem on the motorway, the Highway Code order is: go left, get safe, get help. Leave at the next exit or service area if you can; otherwise pull left onto the hard shoulder or an emergency area, get everyone out and behind the barrier, then call for help. In Manchester, call or WhatsApp 07725 943641.
Motorways are the one place where the first two minutes matter more than anything else. This guide follows the Highway Code order — go left, get safe, get help — so you know exactly what to do if it happens to you on the M60, M62, M56, M61 or M6.
Motorway Breakdown Safety — open 24 hours · fully mobile
Go Left
With a developing problem, aim for the next exit or a service area — somewhere built for parking beats the carriageway every time. When that is not possible, move left onto the hard shoulder or an emergency area, tucking the car as far over as you can with the wheels angled left. Switch the hazards on, plus sidelights after dark.
Get Safe
Get out of the car by the doors furthest from the traffic, taking everyone with you — including passengers who would rather stay put. Get behind the safety barrier and stay well away from the carriageway. Never place a warning triangle on a motorway, and never go back to the car to attempt repairs.
Get Help
Call for help from behind the barrier. Use the free emergency telephone if there is one nearby, or ring from a safe place on your mobile. Stranded in a live lane with no hard shoulder to reach? Keep your seatbelt on, stay inside the car and dial 999.
Once the immediate danger is past, call or WhatsApp 07725 943641 for motorway recovery. Tell us the motorway, your direction of travel and the nearest junction or marker post number.
Smart Motorways: No Hard Shoulder
On smart motorway sections with no hard shoulder, the emergency areas — the signed lay-bys at intervals — are your target. If you cannot reach one, stay in the lane with hazards on, keep seatbelts fastened, and call 999. Do not try to cross live lanes on foot.
What to Keep in the Car
A high-visibility vest, a torch, warm clothing and a charged phone turn a motorway breakdown from frightening to manageable. None of it costs much, and all of it lives happily in the boot until the day you need it.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I stop if my car breaks down on the motorway?
Leave at the next exit or service area if you can. If not, pull left onto the hard shoulder or into an emergency area, as far left as possible.
Should I stay in the car on the motorway?
If you can get out safely, exit by the doors away from traffic and wait behind the barrier. If you are in a live lane and cannot get out safely, stay in the car with your seatbelt on and call 999.
Can I put a warning triangle out on the motorway?
No — never place a warning triangle on a motorway. Get behind the barrier and call for help instead.
Broken down now?
We are open 24 hours across Manchester and the surrounding areas. Call or WhatsApp 07725 943641 with your location for a clear quote before any work starts.