Breakdowns on dual carriageways

Some dual carriageways are similar to motorways; they have

• a hard shoulder
• emergency telephones at regular intervals.

Most dual carriageways don’t have a hard shoulder. If you break down here, get your car safely away from the road if you can – onto the grass verge or lay-by if there is one.

Don’t stop on unprotected lay-bys on dual carriageways if at all possible. Unprotected laybys are those where there’s no kerbed island between the main carriageway and the lay-by.

Fatal incidents involving stopped vehicles on dual carriageways have happened at unprotected lay-bys. Try to find a protected lay-by if at all possible; you’ll be much safer there.

If you have to stop on a grass verge, take care as long grass could be set on fire by the heat of a catalytic converter.

You should also

• use your hazard warning lights
• use your warning triangle or other device – but only if it’s safe to do so
• move your passengers to a safe position off the carriageway, well away from the vehicle
• go to the nearest telephone and arrange assistance
• keep animals safely in the car.