Question

Difficulty: EasyStopping and the Hard Shoulder

You experience engine trouble on a motorway and pull over onto the hard shoulder. In what sequence should you and your passengers complete these essential safety steps?

  1. 1Stop as far to the left of the hard shoulder as possible, turn the front wheels toward the verge, and switch on the hazard warning lights.
  2. 2Have all occupants exit the vehicle using only the left-hand doors.
  3. 3Move all passengers behind the safety barrier and wait on the grass verge or embankment.
  4. 4Walk along the verge to the nearest roadside emergency telephone to call for recovery assistance.

Answer

1. Stop as far left as possible with wheels turned left and activate hazard lights; 2. Exit via left-hand doors; 3. Move behind the safety barrier onto the verge; 4. Walk to the nearest emergency roadside phone to call for assistance.
The correct sequence prioritises vehicle positioning and conspicuity first, evacuation through the safer left-hand doors second, moving behind the protective crash barrier third, and calling for recovery via the roadside emergency telephone once everyone is safe.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Secure and illuminate the stationary vehicle on the far left edge of the hard shoulder.
The car is positioned away from the live carriageway and made conspicuous to approaching motorists.
Immediate illumination and correct wheel positioning mitigate the risk of severe secondary collisions.
2
Instruct all occupants to leave the car via the doors facing away from traffic.
Passengers step directly onto the hard shoulder verge side without being exposed to moving vehicles.
Opening right-hand doors next to high-speed traffic carries extreme risk of injury.
3
Direct all occupants to stand behind the metal crash barrier on the raised embankment.
Everyone is sheltered in the designated safety zone away from the carriageway.
Remaining inside a vehicle on the hard shoulder is dangerous because stationary vehicles are frequently struck.
4
Locate and use the free roadside SOS telephone following the marker post directions.
Emergency operators receive the exact location and dispatch highway assistance.
Roadside emergency phones provide the precise geographical reference point to motorway control centres.

Key Concept

Highway Code protocol for stopping and managing a breakdown safely on a motorway hard shoulder
Estimated Time:45s
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