How to act in the event of a breakdown on the road and what to do if we stop on the roadside

When planning a long journey, one must reckon with the possibility that anything may happen that forces you to stop on the hard shoulder of the road. A breakdown, a puncture, a medical emergency… you must be prepared to pull over without trouble and avoid increasing the risk by marking the vehicle correctly and following some safety guidelines.

The most important thing is not to leave the car at the exit of a bend, at a change in gradient or in an area of poor visibility. Cars approaching from behind will not see it and the risk of an accident increases. It is best to leave it in a place wide enough to do so and where it causes no problem for traffic. If that is not possible, the driver should leave it where it will cause the least inconvenience.

First: switch on the four hazard lights, the well-known hazard warning lights, to warn of the stopped vehicle so that it can be seen from some distance. If you have to leave the car for any reason, wear a high-visibility vest, so that you are highly visible and other vehicles are aware of your presence on the road.

All occupants of the vehicle must wear one if they get out of the car, so it is advisable to have enough vests for all passengers if necessary. The next step is to place the warning triangles, which are compulsory. These must be placed about 50 metres from the stopped car and must allow visibility of at least 100 metres, so take this into account if there are bends or changes in gradient.

If you need help and are waiting for a police officer or a tow truck, stand in a place where there is no danger and traffic is not interrupted. If possible, it is better to do so outside the stopped vehicle and away from the road. Everyone must wear the appropriate vest and remain calm.

It is important to have the travel assistance number saved in your mobile phone, so that you can request help from this service or from 112 if necessary. With these precautions, even if you suffer a minor scare during the journey, it can be resolved quickly and without risk to the vehicle’s occupants.