Whether you’re driving to work for an important meeting, fetching the kids from school, or getting away for a much-anticipated road trip, there’s never a good time to find yourself with a broken down car. But it’s not just an inconvenience and cause for a call to your car insurance provider – dealing with a vehicle breakdown can also be dangerous under certain circumstances.1
For that reason, it’s important to know how to respond if your car breaks down – whether you’ve suffered an overheated engine on the freeway, a flat battery, or a punctured tyre on an unsealed country road.
To help you feel safer and calmer in the event of a car breakdown, the Transport and Road Safety (TARS) Research Centre has shared some helpful tips and advice. Based at UNSW Sydney, TARS is dedicated to road and transport safety research, including risk and safety management, human error and road crash data.2
General tips for staying safe during a car breakdown
The team at TARS has shared three key safety steps to take in the event of a broken down car:
- Move off the road: If possible, move your vehicle away from traffic, such as onto the shoulder, into an emergency lane, or onto a nearby lower-speed road.
- Activate hazard lights: Turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers of your situation and, if it’s safe to do so, lift the bonnet of the vehicle to alert other drivers to the car breakdown.
- Use reflective gear: If you have a reflective vest or warning triangle, use it to make yourself and your vehicle more visible, especially at night or in poor weather.
How to exit your car safely after a breakdown
Once you’ve moved your car away from traffic, TARS recommends that, in most cases, you exit your vehicle, if it’s safe to do so – we’ll touch on an exception to this below.
This isn’t only in case the car has been damaged and poses a danger to passengers – fuel leaks, for instance – but also because oncoming cars can pose a risk to an idle vehicle, according to Dr Raphael Grzebieta AM, Emeritus Professor (Road Safety) at TARS.
“There have been a number of fatalities resulting from rear-end impacts of vehicles crashing into cars that have broken down and pulled over to the roadside, most commonly on freeways and high-speed rural roads,” says Dr Grzebieta.
To exit your vehicle safely, he recommends:
When exiting the car on the driver’s side, drivers and rear-seated occupants need to ensure no cars are approaching.
Once the driver and passengers have exited, stand on the passenger side of the car, well clear of the vehicle if possible – or, if there is a road safety barrier, stand on the other side of the barrier.
If on a bridge, the driver and occupants should walk ahead of the vehicle until they can get clear of the roadway and road emergency lane or verge.
If it’s not safe to exit your vehicle, the Queensland Government advice is to stay in your car with seatbelts securely fastened.1
What to do if your car breaks down on the highway?
TARS recommends two further precautions to keep in mind if you find yourself stalled on a high-speed road. Namely:
Pull your car over as far to the left as possible, preferably off the road and road verge altogether.
All occupants should exit the vehicle and stand well clear of the car and roadway if the speed limit is 60km/h or higher.
What to do if your car breaks down in a tunnel?
NSW Transport provides the following specific guidance for tunnel breakdowns:3
- Pull over to the breakdown bay and switch on your hazard lights.
- Stay in your vehicle and wait for assistance – major tunnels are monitored.3
Calling for help
If your car insurance policy includes roadside assistance, give your provider a call. Not all insurers will offer roadside assistance as standard with all policies, so check your Product Disclosure Statement to see if you’re covered in the event of a broken down car, and what exactly you’ll be covered for.
Youi’s Roadside Assist comes included as standard with all Comprehensive car and Comprehensive motorcycle insurance policies and will typically provide assistance with flat batteries, vehicle towing, flat tyres, emergency fuel, lost or locked keys, bogged vehicles, and taxi rides.4
Don’t have roadside assistance? Most Australian states and territories have an incident reporting line you may be able to call in the event of an emergency car breakdown – and we’ll list those numbers further down. Another option may be to call a local mechanic or garage to come to your location and assess the situation. In some cases, they may be able to fix the problem on the spot or arrange a vehicle tow to their shop for repairs.
While you wait for assistance to arrive, the driver and occupants should maintain a safe distance from both the car and roadside until the vehicle has been repaired for safe driving or taken away by a tow truck, says Dr Grzebieka.
What if you have a broken down car and no phone reception?
What if you’re unable to call roadside assistance straight away? For example, if you don’t have a mobile, or you’re in a reception black spot.
In this instance, TARS’ recommendation is to:
- Stay inside the vehicle – unless it is unsafe (for example, there’s a fire risk or you’re in a dangerous location), stay inside your car with the doors locked until it is safe to exit, then move on to the next steps.
- Raise the bonnet – according to TARS, lifting the bonnet is a universal signal that you are in distress and need help.
- Display a white cloth – attach a white cloth or piece of material to your car (for example, to the door handle, window or antenna) to signal distress to passers-by.
- Flash your lights – at night, periodically flashing your lights can attract attention.
- Seek emergency phones – in some areas, for example, motorways, there may be roadside emergency phones that you can use to call for help.
- Walk cautiously – if it’s safe to do so, walk to a nearby area where you may find help, such as a service station or populated location. Stick to well-lit and visible areas and avoid walking on highways or busy roads.
“In remote areas, particularly in Australia, UHF radios or satellite phones may be essential for contacting emergency services or local assistance,” adds TARS.
Your breakdown action plan
To stay breakdown prepared, download this helpful guide and print it out for your glovebox.
How to get help in a breakdown emergency
The following incident reporting services may be particularly useful in situations where a vehicle is affecting the flow of traffic:
- NSW – Incident Reporting Line, 131 700
- Vic – Incident Response Service, 13 11 70
- Qld – Department of Transport and Main Roads, 13 19 40
- SA – Department for Infrastructure and Transport, 1300 018 313
- NT – NT Police, Fire & Emergency Services, 131 444
There are no comparable reporting lines available in ACT, WA or Tasmania.
Items to keep handy in case of a broken down car
Keen to stay prepared for a breakdown? TARS has provided the following list of items that might be worth keeping in your vehicle:
General emergency equipment
- First-aid kit – to include essentials such as bandages, antiseptic, scissors and pain relief
- Hi-vis vest and reflective triangles – to improve visibility if you are stranded on the roadside
- Torch – preferably battery-powered with spare batteries, or rechargeable
- Phone charger – a car-compatible charger to help keep your phone functional in case of emergency.
For breakdowns and repairs
- Jumper leads – to jump-start your car or assist another motorist
- Spare tyre – ensure it’s properly inflated and in good condition
- Jack and tyre iron/wheel brace – for replacing flat tyres
- Tyre repair kit – for temporary fixes if you can’t replace the tyre
- Work gloves – for handling tools or tyres safely
- Rain poncho or umbrella – to stay dry during roadside repairs in wet weather.
For remote or long-distance travel
- Water and non-perishable snacks – in case you find yourself stranded for an extended period
- Portable air compressor – to inflate tyres if needed
- Emergency blanket – for warmth during breakdowns in cold areas or at night
- Shovel – may be useful for digging your vehicle out of sand or mud in rural or off-road areas
- Physical maps – as a backup in case GPS or mobile networks fail
- Satellite phone or personal locator beacon (PLB) – for emergency communications in remote areas.
Documentation
- Owner’s manual – useful for troubleshooting vehicle issues
- Car insurance and registration details – keep copies in case of accidents or police checks.
Minimising the risk of a car breakdown
Even better than having the right tools on hand in case of an emergency is not having to use them at all. Dr Grzebieka says that regular car maintenance can help minimise your risk of a broken down car.
“Regular servicing should be done when it’s due, regardless of the age of the vehicle,” he says. “Good car maintenance providers have the appropriate professional skills and equipment to identify any potential vehicle breakdown issues.”
Planning ahead is also important – for example, keep an eye on signs such as low fuel, water and tyre pressure and remember to check if your oil needs changing.3 Your car may alert you to common car issues, so stay attentive to warning lights and notifications, and consult your vehicle manual for information on what the problem might be.5
If you’re unfortunate enough to experience a breakdown while on the road, it can be helpful to have Roadside Assistance included with your car insurance. Start a quote with Youi today for insurance that’s a bit more you-shaped.
1 Source: Qld Government – Breakdown safety on motorways and freeways, January 2024
2 Source: UNSW Sydney – Transport and Road Safety
3 Source: NSW Government – How to handle vehicle breakdowns on NSW roads
4 Available with Comprehensive policies, some limits and fees may apply. For full details, see the PDS.
5 Source: Shell Australia – Understanding car warning lights, December 2024
