Driving on motorways
Whatever part of National Highways' network you’re driving on, we want you to stay safe and know what to do if anything goes wrong. Our videos explain the main features of smart motorways, and we provide advice and guidance on safer driving and what to do in an emergency.
Know when you're driving on a smart motorway
Around 10 per cent of the motorway network is now made up of smart motorways. So it's important to be able to recognise their features and how they work together.
How do smart motorways work?
There are a number of elements which work together to give you a better, more reliable journey.
Our 3 minute film shows how to recognise when you're on a smart motorway, takes you through their features and explains how they help you with your journey.
What does the Red X sign mean?
What do the traffic signs and signals mean?
Go left. Leave at the next junction or service area if you can. If that’s not possible, move left onto the hard shoulder or nearest emergency area.
Don’t put out a warning triangle or try to repair your vehicle yourself.
If you can, get yourself and any passengers out of the vehicle via the passenger door, and get behind the safety barrier where there is one, and if it is safe to do so, and on to the verge.
If you're on a verge be aware of any unseen hazards such as sudden drops, uneven ground or debris.
Keep clear of your vehicle and moving traffic at all times. If you don’t, moving traffic could collide with your vehicle, forcing it into you and your passengers.
Specific guidance for motorcyclists can be found here.
If your car stops unexpectedly and it isn’t safe to get out:
- stay in your vehicle
- keep your seatbelts and hazard warning lights on
- call 999 immediately. Alternatively, press your SOS button (if your vehicle has one) and ask for the police. The emergency services can alert us, so we can close motorway lanes and send other help as required, such as a Traffic Officer
- tell the operator if you're disabled and/or a vulnerable motorist - such as an older person or travelling alone
If you have a hearing, speech or physical impairment that means you can’t use an emergency roadside phone, text us on 0738 028 3600 for roadside assistance.
We also offer British Sign Language users the SignLive service for getting in touch with our customer contact centre. Both are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
What if I break down on a motorway?
What if I break down in a 'live' lane?
Dealing with emergencies
Click on the boxes below for information about dealing with urgent situations on the motorway
If you need to stop on a motorway with a hard shoulder
Go left
Move left onto a hard shoulder, left-hand verge.
Leave space so that you can get out of your vehicle from the side furthest from traffic.
Try to stop near an emergency telephone; these are spaced at approximately one mile intervals along motorway hard shoulders.
Get safe and away from moving traffic
Switch your hazard warning lights on, even during the day. If it’s dark, use side lights and in poor visibility use fog lights.
If it’s safe and you can get out with any passengers, exit your vehicle via the left-hand door and get behind a safety barrier where there is one and it is safe to do so. They offer extra protection.
Gather any items you may need, such as mobile phone, coat, hi vis clothing, food, drink and medication. Take care if getting items from the boot.
It’s safer to leave pets in your vehicle, even if you think they may become upset. This is because your pet may become scared, run into the traffic and cause a collision. Only remove pets in an emergency. Keep them under proper control on the verge and behind the safety barrier, if there is one.
Keep well away from your vehicle and moving traffic, even if it’s raining, cold or dark.
If you’re on a verge, be aware of any unseen hazards such as sudden drops, uneven ground or debris.
Get help
Use the free emergency telephone, which connects directly to one of our regional operations centres and identifies your location. Take care while getting to and from an emergency phone. Stay behind the safety barrier where there is one and it is safe to do so.
Alternatively use your mobile phone to call us on 0300 123 5000 if you're unable to exit your vehicle or get to a free emergency telephone.
We'll give you further advice based on your circumstances, and can help arrange further assistance for you.
After your call to us, contact your breakdown recovery provider. They may give you additional instructions.
If you need to stop on a motorway with no hard shoulder
Go left
If you get into trouble on a motorway, most vehicles can be driven to an emergency area.
These are spaced regularly, are painted orange and are marked with blue signs featuring an orange SOS telephone symbol, to indicate the distance to the next one.
Get safe and away from moving traffic
Switch your hazard warning lights on, even during the day. If it’s dark, use side lights and in poor visibility use fog lights.
If it’s safe and you can get out with any passengers, exit your vehicle via the left-hand door and get behind a safety barrier where there is one and it is safe to do so. They offer extra protection.
Gather any items you may need, such as mobile phone, coat, hi-vis clothing, food, drink and medication. Take care if getting items from the boot.
It’s safer to leave pets in your vehicle, even if you think they may become upset. This is because your pet may become scared, run into the traffic and cause a collision. Only remove pets in an emergency. Keep them under proper control on the verge and behind the safety barrier, if there is one.
Keep well away from your vehicle and moving traffic, even if it’s raining, cold or dark.
If you’re on a verge, be aware of any unseen hazards such as sudden drops, uneven ground or debris.
Get help
Use the free emergency telephone which connects directly to a National Highways regional operations centre and identifies your location.
Alternatively use your mobile phone to call us on 0300 123 5000 if you're unable to exit your vehicle.
We'll give you further advice and assistance based on your circumstance.
After your call to National Highways (and the emergency services if required), contact a breakdown provider. They may give you additional instruction.
If you break down in a live lane or in roadworks
If you can’t get into the left hand lane, or you can’t exit your vehicle to get to a place of safety, stay in your vehicle, keep your seatbelts and hazard warning lights on and call 999 immediately.
National Highways closely monitors traffic in roadworks, but you must call 999 if you've broken down in them. The police will then alert us, so we can work with them to provide a coordinated response.
If you're involved in a collision
- Do not stop in a live traffic lane
- Move to a safe place to exchange details. This could be a hard shoulder, emergency area or lay-by
- Give your and the vehicle owner’s name and address, as well as the registration number of the vehicle, to anyone having reasonable grounds for requiring them
- If you don't give your details at the time of the collision, report it to the police as soon as reasonably practical, and in any case within 24 hours
Take care when you rejoin the motorway
Do not exit an emergency area without speaking to National Highways first. We can set signs and warn approaching traffic that you're about to exit an emergency area. We can even close the lane to help you rejoin the motorway if required.
Get back on the road safely from the hard shoulder. Build up speed, use your indicators and watch for a gap in the traffic to rejoin the carriageway safely. Be aware that other vehicles may be stationary on the hard shoulder ahead of you.
Help protect yourself and other drivers
Stay within the speed limit and keep left unless you’re overtaking. This helps to keep you and other road users safe, and to keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible.
Plan ahead. Check that your vehicle is safe and roadworthy, and that you have enough fuel for your journey. Remember to plan for breaks and don’t drive when you’re tired.
If you or anyone in your vehicle is unable to follow our breakdowns advice for any reason, stay in your vehicle, keep your seatbelts and hazard warning lights on and call 999 immediately.
Don't stop to assist another vehicle that has broken down or been involved in a collision. You may feel you want to help, but it's safer to call National Highways, or if there is an immediate risk to life call 999.
Keep the following items in the car if you can:
- Warm clothes
- Hi-vis jacket
- A torch
- Breakdown cover details
Make sure you have these items with you before you set off on a long journey:
- Any medication you need
- Charged mobile phone
- Food and water
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower for your vehicle
We've teamed up with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower to create a free Sunflower for your vehicle. Displaying the Sunflower indicates that you have an non-visible disability, and may need additional support from traffic officers and others. It means you’ll get the help you need if you break down on the motorway.
Take a road trip with Suzi and Ortis
TV presenters Suzi Perry and Ortis Deley take you on a road trip along a smart motorway, explaining the system and key information that drivers need to know
Watch the full film here (12min)