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Difficulty: HardGeneral Breakdown Procedures and Warning Devices

You are driving on an unlit dual carriageway at night when an unexpected engine failure forces you to coast safely onto the nearside verge. In what chronological sequence should you execute the necessary safety precautions and warning procedures according to the Highway Code?

  1. 1Switch on your hazard warning lights and leave your sidelights illuminated.
  2. 2Instruct all occupants to exit the vehicle strictly through the nearside (left-hand) doors.
  3. 3Guide all passengers to stand well behind the safety barrier and up onto the embankment, facing oncoming traffic.
  4. 4Position a reflective warning triangle on the edge of the carriageway at least 45 metres (147 feet) behind the broken-down vehicle.
  5. 5Contact an emergency breakdown service while remaining in a safe location away from the road.

Answer

1. Switch on hazard warning lights and sidelights, 2. Evacuate all occupants via nearside doors, 3. Move passengers safely behind the barrier onto the embankment facing traffic, 4. Place a warning triangle at least 45 metres behind the vehicle, 5. Contact emergency breakdown services.
Under Highway Code Rule 274, the first priority upon stopping is alerting approaching drivers by turning on hazard warning lights and sidelights in darkness. Next, all passengers must exit safely via the nearside (left) doors and move immediately behind the crash barrier or up the verge/embankment to avoid collision debris. Once everyone is in a safe location, the driver may place a warning triangle at least 45 metres (147 feet) behind the car on the same side of the road if safe to do so. Finally, emergency breakdown assistance should be phoned from the safe refuge area.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Activate the vehicle's hazard warning lights and sidelights immediately upon stopping.
The stationary vehicle becomes visible to approaching drivers on the unlit road.
Highway Code Rule 274 states you must warn other road users as early as possible when stopped on a verge or carriageway.
2
Ensure all occupants exit the car using the nearside (left-hand) doors.
Passengers avoid exposure to the live traffic lanes on the offside of the vehicle.
Exiting onto the verge side minimizes the imminent risk of collisions from fast-moving traffic.
3
Direct all occupants to wait well away from the carriageway and hard shoulder/verge, preferably behind a safety barrier or up an embankment, keeping an eye on oncoming traffic.
Passengers are protected in the event that another vehicle strikes the stationary car.
Remaining inside or near a broken-down vehicle on a high-speed road presents extreme collision hazards.
4
Carefully walk back along the verge to place a warning triangle on the road surface at least 45 metres (147 feet) back on the same side.
Approaching vehicles receive sufficient early warning to adjust course safely.
Warning triangles are permitted and recommended on non-motorway dual carriageways when it is safe to set them out.
5
Call breakdown recovery or highway emergency authorities from the safe vantage point behind the barrier.
Professional assistance is dispatched without putting the driver at risk during the call.
Administrative and recovery calls must never take priority over physical safety and visibility measures.

Key Concept

Highway Code breakdown safety sequence on high-speed dual carriageways: immediate vehicle lighting, nearside evacuation, passenger safe positioning, warning triangle placement, and emergency service contact.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

General Breakdown Procedures and Warning Devices

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