Question

Difficulty: EasyBreakdown Procedures

You have experienced a vehicle defect and managed to pull onto the hard shoulder of a motorway. In which order should you carry out the following safety actions? Arrange the steps in the correct chronological sequence.

  1. 1Switch on your hazard warning lights to warn approaching drivers.
  2. 2Ensure all occupants exit the vehicle using the passenger-side (left-hand) doors.
  3. 3Move behind the crash barrier and wait up the verge or embankment.
  4. 4Walk to the nearest roadside emergency telephone to call for recovery assistance.

Answer

The correct order is: switch on hazard warning lights, exit through the left-hand doors, move behind the safety barrier up the embankment, and then walk to the nearest emergency roadside telephone.
According to the Highway Code, when broken down on the hard shoulder, a driver must first turn on hazard warning lights to alert others, exit via the left-hand doors away from traffic, move immediately behind the crash barrier up the embankment for safety, and finally use the roadside emergency phone to report the incident.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Switch on hazard warning lights.
The broken-down vehicle is immediately conspicuous to motorway traffic.
Warning other drivers of a stationary obstacle reduces the risk of rear-end collisions.
2
Exit the car using only the left-hand doors.
Passengers exit safely onto the verge away from live traffic lanes.
Opening driver-side doors exposes passengers directly to high-speed motorway vehicles.
3
Move behind the safety barrier and up the embankment.
All occupants are stationed in a protected, elevated position.
Staying inside or near the car on the hard shoulder is extremely dangerous if an approaching vehicle veers off course.
4
Use the nearest roadside emergency telephone.
Direct contact is established with National Highways or emergency operators.
Roadside emergency phones automatically provide the control centre with the precise marker location of the breakdown.

Key Concept

Motorway breakdown safety sequence and passenger protection under Highway Code Rule 274
Estimated Time:45s
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