The reassuring thing is that many breakdowns can be easily fixed, so don't panic. Here's how to deal with your break down.

A & B Roads

Use your common sense and try to stop some where with people around to help you. Put on your hazard lights and if you can, pull out of the way of the traffic. It's a good idea to lift up your car bonnet and put out a warning triangle so other drivers know you've broken down.

Next call your breakdown cover on your mobile. If you need to get to a public phone and have children, take them with you. You need to tell them:

1. Where you are.
2. If you're alone or have vulnerable passengers such as babies or young children.
3. What you think is wrong with the car
4. Your membership number. When you return to the car, if it's in a safe place where it won't be a hazard to passing traffic, get back inside and lock the doors.

Be aware of your personal safety at all times – if someone stops to help, ask to see their identification.

On Motorways

1. Get on the hard shoulder as far away from the carriageway as you can and turn on your hazard lights.
2. Call your breakdown cover from your mobile, or if you need to use an emergency phone (the marker posts at the side of the hard shoulder show you where the nearest one is).
3. Exit the car on the passenger side and get as far away from the road as possible.
   When you call, give the operator the same information as above.

When you go back to the car, don't get back in as you can be killed in your car on the hard shoulder.