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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you’ve ever broken down on a motorway....

93 replies

Lookatmeimsandradeeee · 29/04/2018 23:14

... as the only adult and also had young children in the car, what did you do in terms of ‘evacuating to safety’? Hypothetical scenario but suddenly realising I have no idea what would be best....

I have two DCs, Preschool ages. I saw a car broken down today on the motorway (hard shoulder) and I suddenly realised I have no idea how I’d manage getting my kids to safety if I was on my own while we waited for a breakdown service.

Asked my DH - he said it would be a judgement call based on the situation which in my case, would probably be blind panic. Now I’m really overthinking it and can’t get it out of my head.

if You’ve ever been in this situation, what did you do? Or what do you think you would do? My worry is they won’t hold my hand, or try and wriggle out of my arms......

OP posts:
carefreeeee · 30/04/2018 11:21

Stop and think for a moment to calm yourself down, then get out on the side away from traffic if it's safe. Keep kids in their seats if possible if they are toddler age. You can always move one and then come back for another. Definitely leave dogs in the car - the last thing you want is a loose dog running round on the motorway.

Worth being prepared and making sure you have enough food and water on board plus warm clothes if going any distance.

Main thing is to stay calm and avoid panic - easier if you've thought about it beforehand

LinoleumBlownapart · 30/04/2018 11:33

Not a motorway but a tyre blew on a big double lane county road where we live in South America. DH managed to get the car safely onto the hard shoulder and we got the kids and leashed dog out of the car and way up on the verge, made them climb through the fence and under trees. I wouldn't wait in the car or close to the road. It was 38 degrees too, but better they were hot than flat.

LakieLady · 30/04/2018 12:06

My friend was killed, and her little boy suffered life changing injuries, when a lorry crashed into her car on the hard shoulder of the M2. CCTV showed she'd only stopped 90 seconds earlier, so she was probably still working out how to get her toddler out.

I'd be halfway out by the time the wheels had stopped turning after that happened.

Happyandshiney · 30/04/2018 12:21

Lakie SadFlowers

MardAsSnails · 30/04/2018 12:22

I once almost got a fine in the UAE after breaking down on the motorway. I coaster to the hard shoulder, got out, and stood behind the crash barriers. A police man pulled over and told me off for being out of my car next to a highway. Would have been a £40 fine. I told him the UK rules and instructions and he wasn’t fussed (obviously, being a different country and different rules), until he saw my car visibly shake after a wagon went past at speed.

He ran me to the nearest services and arranged the tow truck to take my car home.

Anyway, point is, just to add to a PP stating the rules in France regarding vis vests, make sure you know the rules if you’re driving overseas as they are likely to be different. Read up before you go.

Blobby10 · 30/04/2018 13:18

Does anyone know whether, in the event of breaking down in lane 3 of a British motorway, if its considered safer to get out of the vehicle and stand between the crash barriers than staying in the vehicle?

I've seen people do both over the past few years and never got round to asking anyone

dayinlifeof · 30/04/2018 13:34

They talked about this and said that Smart Motorways know when you breakdown (can sense you slowing and stopping) and will automatically close the lane behind you and slow the speed on other lanes.

How do they know?

dayinlifeof · 30/04/2018 13:37

This is an interesting (and sometimes amusing) post about smart motorways

www.regit.cars/car-news/smart-motorways-do-they-work_69652

plominoagain · 30/04/2018 13:42

There are a number of sensors built into the road surface , which registers flow of traffic , and works with the monitoring system which includes CCTV amongst other measures . So the moment you stop in the lane , the flow of traffic in that lane will suddenly stop or slow down, which will alert the montoring system that something has happened , so it looks for a reason why , which should then pick you up on CCTV , and triggers the lane closure . That’s what was explained to me by a highways officer .

Bratsandtwats · 30/04/2018 14:13

Can I just say because it's annoying me that there is no fast lane on the motorway. It's the outside lane.

Mia1415 · 30/04/2018 14:19

I've broken down 3 times on the motorway. The first time I was on my own and I got out and stood behind the hard shoulder.
The second time I was with my DS who was only 2 I think. There was an accident on the M25 and the traffic was literally crawling past. I therefore made a judgement call to stay in the car. We had to wait ages for the AA because they couldn't get to us.

The third time I was on my own. It was snowing and freezing cold. Again I was told I'd have a 2-3 hour wait for rescue. I was on the slip road and not on the main motorway and I stupidly didn't have a coat with me. I therefore made the judgment call that staying in the car was probably safer than getting hypothermia.

In any normal situation however I'd get out of my car wait behind the safety barrier.

juneau · 30/04/2018 16:08

The outside lane is the slow lane, the inside lane is the fast lane.

Original poster
Lookatmeimsandradeeee · 30/04/2018 16:30

Thanks everyone. I’ve bizarrely always been ‘prepared’ for a breakdown in the sense I have a ‘grab bag’ in the boot with a blanket, snacks, wind up phone charger, torch, colouring books and jumpers/coats in, and a fun little pop up tent in the event of rain, but my absolute panic yesterday came when I considered the physical reality of getting my two ‘runners’ safely from a to b...... I’ve not really stopped thinking about it since (how mad do I sound??!) - I guess it’s just a case of get the f-ck on with it and get out of the car to safety any which way we can...... fingers crossed none of us ever have to put it into practice.

Thanks everyone, some really useful advice here - and smart motorways?! I had no idea......

OP posts:
dayinlifeof · 30/04/2018 17:17

@juneau

The outside lane is the slow lane, the inside lane is the fast lane.

What?!

Lucyccfc · 30/04/2018 17:23

Another thing to remember (police gave me this advice) when you get out of your vehicle and get onto the embankment, make sure that you are facing the on-coming traffic, so you are aware of what's happening with traffic on the motorway.

juneau · 30/04/2018 17:29

Well maybe I have those the wrong way round, I always thought the one closest to the central reservation was the 'inside' lane, because it's closest to the middle, but I see from googling that some people have it the other way around and they call the 'inside' lane the one next to the hard shoulder!

Nicknacky · 30/04/2018 17:31

june Do you drive?!

juneau · 30/04/2018 17:33

Yup - have done for 27 years!

Nicknacky · 30/04/2018 17:35

So have you been undertaking people all this time if you think the outside lane is the inside?!

Wolfiefan · 30/04/2018 17:44

@juneau are you in the UK?

Nicknacky · 30/04/2018 17:45

Oooh good thought wolfie

WellWellWellifitisntyou · 30/04/2018 17:45

Broke down with a 2 year old on the m25 half way from home, half way to parents just before a junction the vehicle lost power. I was a new driver and shaking, terrified because I had the baby. Got onto the hardshoulder, popped the boot, got the buggy out put it behind the barrier with the brakes on the fastest ive ever put that thing up. Strapped toddler into it. Rang df who's a mechanic. He diagnosed the problem over the phone and told me the car would run enough to get me off the motorway. He said to just get back in the car and run it to the next junction and just get off the motorway. So i held ds, got the buggy down and back in the boot, strapped him back in and the car got me off the motorway and into this petrol station come truck stop that my dad had described. Dh then picked me up and took me down to parents and df went and got my car and repaired it. It was daylight with good visibility and little traffic considering it's the m25. Made me really think about the use of the hazard triangle etc. I've seen a lady broken down with a pram behind the barrier before, it's terrifying and I just hope that whether it's family or AA or whatever they can get hold of a mechanic and get advice as quickly as I did.

Wolfiefan · 30/04/2018 17:49

Nick it'll be my only one of the day! Grin

starfishmummy · 30/04/2018 17:50

Inoffen travel with a family memeber who has ohysicalnand learning difficulties.n l I cannot leave them alone but not could I take them with me l - they can't walk far so I'd need to get the wheelchair out and set up. Indont I could get them over.the barrier either.

I'd have to phone from my mobile and hope they could help quickly.

NotMeNoNo · 30/04/2018 18:04

I work on motorways from time to time. IIRC our training in a breakdown is to get out of the car and onto the verge, go backwards from your vehicle a good bit so it does not flip onto you if hit. Watch the oncoming traffic, lorries wander onto the hard shoulder all the time. For this reason please don't stay in the car unless you have literally no choice like the disabled person mentioned above. If you have young DC then it might be worth having a set of reins in the car.

Also the little 100m marker post numbers will give your accurate location e.g. M6 75/9 northbound. Or the bigger blue post signs every 500m should you manage to see one.