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Car breakdown on a highway

Emergency numbers differ by country. This page uses 911, the number for the United States and Canada. Many other countries use 112, 999, or another number. Find the number for your country.

A breakdown on a fast road is dangerous, mainly because of passing traffic. This page tells you how to get to the safest place, how to call for help, and when to stay inside the car.

Do this now

  1. Turn on your hazard lights as soon as the car starts to fail.
  2. Steer to the shoulder or the safest place you can reach, as far from traffic as possible. On a motorway or freeway, an exit or service area is better than stopping on the road.
  3. Stop, set the parking brake, and turn off the engine.
  4. If it is safe, get out on the side away from traffic, with all passengers. Move well away from the car and behind a barrier if there is one.
  5. Call for help: your roadside assistance, or your local emergency number if you are in danger (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union, 999 in the United Kingdom).
  6. Wait away from the road, not in the car, and do not return to it.

Get off the road

Keep your hazard lights on, and use your indicator to move toward the edge. Do not brake hard. If the car is slowing down, let it roll to the shoulder. If you can reach an exit, a service area, or a wide, flat shoulder, go there.

If you cannot leave the lane, keep the hazard lights on and think about whether it is safer to leave the car or stay in it. On a fast, busy road, a car that is still in a lane is at high risk of being hit.

Leave the car safely

Get out on the side furthest from traffic, and bring passengers out the same way. Take your phone, and a flashlight if you have one. Keep pets on a leash or in a carrier, so they cannot run into traffic.

Walk well away from the road, ideally behind a guardrail or fence. Watch for drops, ditches, and uneven ground. Keep children close and hold their hands.

... danger "Do not stand close to your car" Cars are often hit from behind, and a hit car can be pushed into anyone standing beside it. Stand well away, not in front of or behind the car, and never in the traffic lanes. Do not try to repair the car on the road.

If you cannot get out safely

If there is fast traffic and you cannot leave the car without stepping into danger, stay inside with your seatbelt on and your hazard lights on. Call your local emergency number and tell them where you are. Police and highway patrols can close a lane and protect you.

Call for help

Tell the operator or your roadside assistance:

  • where you are, such as the road name, direction of travel, and the nearest exit or marker
  • what is wrong with the car
  • how many people are with you, and whether anyone is hurt, a child, or has a medical need

Many highways have mile markers or emergency phones. On some roads, an emergency phone gives your exact position. If your phone has location sharing, use it to send your position.

Warning signs and triangles

If you carry a reflective triangle and it is safe to reach the road, place it behind the car, far enough to give drivers time to slow down. Local rules differ about distance, and some places forbid using triangles on motorways. If you do not know the rules, stay away from the road and rely on hazard lights.

In a remote area, stay with the car

Away from towns, a car is easier to see than a person. Stay with it, unless you know that help is very close, or the car is in danger.

  • Stay in the shade in hot weather, or keep warm in cold weather
  • Run the engine only briefly, and keep the exhaust clear of snow, because of carbon monoxide (see carbon monoxide)
  • Ration water and food, and sip water often
  • Tie something bright to the car, and use the hazard lights only when the battery allows
  • Tell someone your location if you have signal
  • Keep your window open slightly if you run the engine

Do not wander off. Search teams look for vehicles first. For cold weather, see winter storms. For heat, see heat illness.

Prepare before you go

  • Tell someone your route and when you expect to arrive
  • Keep a charged phone and a car charger
  • Carry water, warm clothing, a flashlight, and a first aid kit
  • Have your roadside assistance number saved in your phone
  • Check your tires, fuel, and fluids before long trips

See the car emergency kit for a full list.