Drivewell

At least 250 people in the UK are injured every year on the hard shoulder after a breakdown, and knowing the best course of action can prevent this.

Here are some tips on how to stay safe:

• Don't use the hard shoulder for making a phone call, reading a map, going to the toilet or any other action which isn't unavoidable - wait until you can pull into a service station. The hard shoulder is for emergencies only, or if the Police require you to pull over.
  
• Pull over as far to the left-hand side as you can, and make sure your wheels are turned to the left too.
• Leave the car from the left-hand passenger side to avoid stepping out next to the carriageway.
• Using the emergency telephone on the hard shoulder is preferable to a mobile. Each one has a number which lets the Police Control Centre operator know where you are. Tell the operator the number of the phone so the breakdown service can reach you quicker.
• Emergency telephones are indicated by blue and white arrow markers which point you in the direction of the nearest one - they are located one mile apart from one another.
• Be sure to face the carriageway when making the call, so that you can see any dangers in advance.
• Avoid sitting in the car whilst waiting for the breakdown service - you're up to seven times more likely to be involved in an accident.
• Warning triangles should not be used on motorways.
• When the breakdown is fixed, rejoin the carriageway as soon as you can, using the hard shoulder to gather speed.