Vechicle Breakdown

High quality regular maintenance is key to avoiding a vehicle breakdown.  Consistent service allows our service technicians the ability to keep an eye out for any potential or developing problems.  However, unforeseen things can still happen (like car parts failing without warning).  If that happens, here are a few helpful tips:

With any vehicle problem, it can be difficult and/or dangerous to stop.  Activate your hazard warning lights and get your vehicle off the road as soon as possible.  Hard shoulders of roadways are for emergency use only, and you should only stop there if it is truly an emergency, and you have no other choice.  The best action is to drive to a safe place just off the road if possible.

AAA offers the following tips about stopping safely to call for help:
IF AN EMERGENCY FORCES YOU TO STOP:

• Pull to the hard shoulder and stop as far to the right as possible with the wheels turned to the right.
  
• Leave your running lights on and turn on your hazard warning lights
• If you feel it is dangerous, stay inside the vehicle
  
• Exit the vehicle by the right-hand door and make sure your passengers do the same
  
• Leave animals inside the vehicle
  
• If you have reflective jackets inside your vehicle, wear them
  
• Do not use warning triangle on the hard shoulder of the road
  
• ​Make sure the passengers keep away from the road and hard shoulder, and that children are kept under control.  Best to retreat up the bank or behind a barrier if at all possible
  

Once you are in a safe place, use a mobile phone to call for help, making sure you can describe your location.  Look for driver location signs which will help to pinpoint your location and direction of travel.  These can be reference numbers on a mile marker post.

If you have a smart phone, you can download the AAA app which uses the GPS function on the phone to assist in finding your exact location.  With a simple touch of an icon, both the call and location are transferred to the AAA control center.

If you do not have a mobile phone, walk to an emergency telephone on your side of the road.  NEVER attempt to cross the road.  Give full details to the police, including if you are a vulnerable motorist (like a woman traveling alone).

If you feel at risk from another person, return to your vehicle by a right-hand door and lock all doors.  Leave your vehicle again as soon as you feel this danger has passed.

If you have a disability which prevents you from following the instructions above, then stay in your vehicle.  Keep your seat belt on, switch on your hazard warning lights and use a mobile phone (if you have one) to contact emergency services.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU STOP ON THE HARD SHOULDER TO:

• Go to the restroom
• Use a mobile phone
• Check a route or map
  

RETURNING TO THE ROADWAY:

Build up speed on the hard shoulder and watch for a safe gap in the traffic before rejoining the highway.  Be aware that other vehicles may be stationary on the hard shoulder.