Vehicle breakdown on the highway: what to do

In short: When breaking down on the highway, the priority is getting out of the danger zone quickly and safely before dealing with the vehicle. The high traffic flow makes highway breakdowns significantly more dangerous than on normal roads.

In more detail: Most serious breakdown-related accidents aren’t caused by the defect itself, but by people staying too long in the dangerous area of the roadway.

In detail

• Turn on hazard lights immediately: Other road users need to recognize early that the vehicle is slowing down or stopping.
• Steer to the shoulder: If possible, move the vehicle far to the right onto the hard shoulder or behind the guardrail.
• Set up a warning triangle: At a safe distance, usually 150 to 400 meters behind the vehicle, depending on visibility.
• Put on a safety vest: Put on the vest before getting out, ideally already while still in the vehicle.
• Step behind the guardrail: Everyone should move behind the guardrail or to a safe distance from the roadway, not wait inside the vehicle.
• Call for roadside assistance: Use an emergency call box or phone to contact roadside assistance or police and give the exact location.
• Waiting at a safe distance: Wait for help at a safe distance, never on the roadway or right next to the vehicle (sturm-und-gewitter-verhalten).