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Difficulty: MediumBreakdown Procedures

You are driving on a motorway at night in poor visibility when your vehicle breaks down. You manage to bring the car to a halt as far to the left as possible on the hard shoulder. Which TWO actions should you carry out to secure the vehicle and warn other road users before exiting?

  1. Turn the steering wheel so that the front wheels point towards the left vergeAnswer
  2. Switch on the hazard warning lights and leave the sidelights illuminatedAnswer
  3. C
    Place a reflective warning triangle 45 metres behind the vehicle on the hard shoulder
  4. D
    Remain seated inside the vehicle with the interior light switched on until roadside help arrives

Answer

Turn the steering wheel so that the front wheels point towards the left verge, and switch on the hazard warning lights and leave the sidelights illuminated.
According to Rule 274 of The Highway Code, when breaking down on a motorway hard shoulder in poor visibility or at night, drivers must switch on hazard warning lights and leave sidelights on to make the stationary vehicle visible. Steering the wheels to the left ensures that any collision from behind will shove the vehicle safely onto the verge rather than into live motorway lanes.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Angle the steering direction to the left verge
Vehicle wheels are pointed away from the carriageway
If another vehicle collides with the back of the stationary car, the impact pushes it into the verge instead of into active traffic lanes.
2
Activate emergency warning lights and position lights
Hazard lights flash and sidelights remain on
Rule 274 of The Highway Code requires hazard warning lights and sidelights when stopped in darkness or poor visibility to ensure oncoming traffic sees the hazard.

Key Concept

Motorway breakdown safety protocol, vehicle positioning, and lighting requirements under Highway Code Rule 274
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Breakdown Procedures

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