- Only 41% would wait in the safest place – behind the safety
barrier and away from danger
- 22% would stand diagonally in front of their vehicle
- One in a hundred would stand in the road
- In an Emergency Refuge Area, more than one in 50 would wait
in the car or stand around it
Three fifths (59%*) of drivers would stand or wait in a dangerous
place if they broke down on a motorway according to the AA. That
includes standing where a vehicle might be thrown if another hits
the back and when occupants are actually standing on the
motorway.
The poll of more than 15,000 drivers found that a fifth (22%) of
people would stand in one of the most dangerous places on a
motorway – diagonally in front of the broken down vehicle. Should
another vehicle crash into the broken down car, this is the most
likely place the vehicles will fly towards and crush people, even
if they are behind the barrier. Around 1% of drivers would wait
in the broken down car.
Fortunately, two fifths (41%) would wait in the safest place
which is behind the barrier and well past the boot of the
casualty vehicle (Zone 1, see image below). Once over the
barrier, people should walk towards the oncoming traffic.
The figures differ slightly should they reach an emergency refuge
area on a smart motorway. As the car is in a layby, 2% said they
would stay in the vehicle.
-
Imagine you broke down on a motorway with a
continuous hard shoulder. Looking at the image below, please
indicate where would you stand while waiting for
assistance?
Zone 1: 41%, Zone 2: 34%, Zone 3: 22%, Zone 4: 0.5%, Zone 5: 1%,
Zone 6: 0.5%, Don’t know: 1%
-
Imagine you broke down on a motorway with an
Emergency Refuge Area (ERA) and you were able to stop in the
ERA. Looking at the image below, please indicate where would
you stand while waiting for assistance?
Zone 1: 39%, Zone 2: 36%, Zone 3: 21%, Zone 4: 0.5%, Zone 5: 2%,
Zone 6: 0.5%, Don’t know: 1%
As drivers prepare themselves for lengthy road trips ahead of the
Christmas Getaway, the AA is reminding drivers where to stand
should their vehicle break down.
Sean Sidley, AA patrol of the year, said: “Breaking down on a
motorway is a scary experience and drivers can make things worse
by waiting in the wrong place. Should the car be hit, the force
of the collision could prove fatal.
“If you can get out of your vehicle, the safest exit is normally
through the passenger doors, get over the barrier, walk past the
car boot and towards the oncoming traffic. This limits your
contact with other road users. Once there, you should stay in
that location until you are instructed otherwise. For those with
limited mobility, we advise they remain in the vehicle with their
seatbelt and hazard warning lights on**.
“As we head into the depths of winter with more cold, wet and
dark conditions there is a temptation to wait in the car. Keeping
a coat, hat, gloves, water, high energy snacks and a fluorescent
vest in the car for you and your passengers can be a saving
grace.
“Most breakdowns can be prevented, so it is important to check
your vehicle over before setting off. Making sure you have enough
fuel or electric charge in the car, undamaged tyres, along with
good oil and coolant levels, will help prevent most faults.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
* AA Yonder Driver Poll, October 2021. 15,097 respondents
** In the images above “Zone 1” is the safest place to stand.
More details on what drivers should do if they breakdown on a
motorway can be found here; https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/advice/what-to-do-motorway-breakdown
AA members who breakdown on motorways are given safety advice
when they report their breakdown.
