| No one ever breaks down in their car at a convenient | | | | to get the car into a car park or to a quiet spot. You |
| moment. You're always heading off somewhere | | | | can then see what the problem is and if you have the |
| important and you get delayed as a result, but would | | | | wherewithal you can see about fixing the problem |
| you be ready for anything if you were unfortunate | | | | yourself. You shouldn't do this on a motorway as it |
| enough to break down? | | | | would be too dangerous with the cars speeding past |
| Sadly, many people aren't. The fact is that most of us | | | | you. |
| go out in our cars and expect to get from A to B | | | | One aspect of breaking down that many people don't |
| without incident. If the car lets us down in some way, | | | | think about is to do with the weather. It could be the |
| we could be stuck and waiting for assistance for | | | | case that you break down on a hot summer's day, in |
| some time. | | | | which case having some water with you would be a |
| The first thing to do is to get you and your car to | | | | good idea. |
| safety. Pull over to the side of the road if you can and | | | | But supposing you break down in the middle of winter, |
| make sure you put your hazard lights on. You can use | | | | would you know what to do? If this happens you |
| a warning triangle if you keep one in the boot of your | | | | won't have the heat from your car to keep you warm |
| car - but only if you don't break down on a motorway. | | | | any more. That's why it is always a good idea to have |
| Of course, while these are a good idea, you should | | | | blankets in the car, just in case. No one likes to think |
| remember that your immediate safety always comes | | | | they may need them, but you never know when your |
| first. | | | | car might let you down. |
| When you do breakdown, safety should always be | | | | It helps to know that you can call on someone for help |
| the most important thing to think about. On motorways | | | | if you need it as well. Always make sure you have a |
| this would normally mean getting out of your car and | | | | mobile phone that is fully charged with you, and get |
| getting to safety, away from the motorway itself. If | | | | adequate car breakdown insurance cover as well. |
| you've pulled over to the hard shoulder, you wouldn't | | | | You never quite know when it will come in useful. |
| use the driver's door as this puts you too close to the | | | | Of course, prevention is always better than the cure |
| traffic. | | | | so be sure to keep your car up to the standards set |
| In other locations it depends on where you are and | | | | out in the Highway Code and if you're not sure about |
| what the circumstances are. For example, if you break | | | | something, it's always worth taking it in to a garage to |
| down in the middle of a small village, you might be able | | | | get a professional's opinion. |