| Modern cars will rarely break down. When
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| | A normal puncture
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| they do the fault can often be traced
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| | If a tyre develops a puncture while
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| back to poor maintenance and a failure to
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| | driving you should pull over to a safe
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| look after the car properly. You should
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| | location as quickly as possible. Changing
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| never ignore any faults which your car
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| | a tyre on a public road can be a very
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| develops whilst driving. Always be on the
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| | dangerous activity.
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| look out for odd smells or noises. If any
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| | - Make sure it is safe to change the
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| occur be prepared to pull over and
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| | wheel
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| investigate.
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| | - Remove the spare wheel, wrench and jack
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| If you do break down your first concern
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| | from the boot of your car.
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| should be to ensure your vehicle isn't or
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| | - Making sure the handbrake is on put the
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| doesn't become a hazard for other road
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| | car into first gear (park for an
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| users. If you can you should pull off the
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| | automatic). Refer to your car's user
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| road. If your vehicle remains on the road
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| | manual to find where the jacking point
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| the switch on your hazard warning lights.
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| | is.
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| If you have a warning triangle place it
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| | - Making sure the jack is on firm ground
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| on the road at at least 45 metres behind
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| | attach the jack then use it to lift the
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| your car on the same side of the road. If
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| | car up just above the ground.
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| you have passengers then ask them to get
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| | - Remove the wheel nuts
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| out of the vehicle and wait in a safe
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| | - Remove the wheel
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| place.
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| | - Fit the spare wheel, tighten the wheel
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| To be prepared to deal with common
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| | nuts then lower the jack.
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| breakdowns use the following guide.
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| | - Go to the nearest garage and get your
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| Engine failure
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| | damaged tyre fixed or replaced.
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| If the engine fails while driving you
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| | A Fire
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| will lose power steering and power
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| | Firstly it is always wise to carry a fire
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| assistance to the brakes. This will
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| | extinguisher. Secondly if ever you start
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| result in the steering becoming heavier.
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| | to smell petrol fumes whilst driving
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| You will need to use greater force to
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| | always pull over and investigate. If your
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| steer the car. You will also have to
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| | vehicle does catch fire then get yourself
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| press the brake pedal harder.
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| | and any passengers out of the vehicle as
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| Engine overheating - if this happens then
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| | quickly as possible. Call the fire
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| you should stop and let the engine cool
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| | brigade. Never try and extinguish a fire
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| down. Once cool you can look under the
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| | under the bonnet by opening the bonnet as
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| bonnet to investigate a cause.
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| | this may make the flames flare up.
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| Tyre Blow-out
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| | For many people breaking down on the
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| This is when a tyre bursts while you are
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| | motorway is a frightening prospect and
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| driving. If ever you find yourself is
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| | certainly the motorway is an place of
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| this situation here's what to do
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| | many hazards. If you do have to stop on
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| - Keep your eyes firmly on the road and
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| | the motorway due to your car developing a
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| both hands on the steering wheel
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| | fault then here is what you should do.
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| - Keep the steering wheel in a steady
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| | - Pull over to the hard shoulder and park
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| position, making only slight movements.
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| | as far to the left as you can.
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| - Turn on your hazard lights to show that
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| | - Turn your steering wheel left full
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| you are having a problem. If you are on
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| | lock. This will point the front wheels to
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| the motorway in any lane other than the
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| | the left so if you're hit by another car
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| inside then don't do this straight away
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| | your car will not be pushed back onto the
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| as it may cause impatient people to
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| | carriageway.
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| undercut you and increase the chances of
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| | - Switch on your hazard warning lights.
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| an accident.
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| | If it is night time or there is poor
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| - Try and identify where you can bring
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| | visibility turn on your side lights.
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| the vehicle to a stop, outside the main
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| | - Exit your vehicle using the left hand
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| traffic flow - if on a motorway this will
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| | doors. If you have passengers then tell
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| be the hard shoulder, or you may need to
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| | them to wait on the the grassy bank or as
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| just pull up in a lay-by or at the side
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| | far away from the carriageway as
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| of the road, avoiding any bends.
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| | possible.
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| - Don't apply the brake but do take your
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| | - If you have any animals leave them in
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| foot off the accelerator and try to coast
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| | your vehicle.
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| - slowing down gently (this is because if
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| | - Phone the emergency services. If you
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| you have a faulty tyre, braking heavily
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| | know your location, between two junctions
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| can make your car swerve uncontrollably
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| | then use your mobile. If you don't know
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| and cause a collision).
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| | your location then walk to the nearest
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| - As your car slows down drive into the
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| | emergency phone and call from there. This
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| identified 'safe' spot taking care not to
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| | will pinpoint your location.
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| rush and keeping a close eye on traffic
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| | - Do not attempt to repair your vehicle.
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| around you. If you have your hazards on
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| | - Wait for the emergency services on the
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| then hopefully other road users will
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| | grassy bank and as far from the
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| realise you have a problem and will allow
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| | carriageway as possible.
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| you to leave the flow of traffic.
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| | - If your car won't reach the hard
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| - Park up and get yourself and your
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| | shoulder then turn on your hazard warning
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| passengers out of the car, taking care
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| | lights and making sure it is safe to exit
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| that you do not put yourself or them in
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| | your vehicle do so then make your way to
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| danger from passing cars. Move a safe
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| | the hard shoulder.
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| distance away from the car.
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