Safe places to stop if you get a flat tyre
Life has a habit of throwing up the unexpected, with the possibility of getting a flat tyre when you’re out and about no exception.
Whilst the natural instinct might be to stay where you are the moment this happens, finding a safe place to stop is essential, not just for you but for other road users. On A and B roads, it is often relatively easy to pull over and ensure that you are away from traffic flowing in either direction. Motorways, on the other hand, require further considerations in ensuring a safety-first approach.
Experiencing a puncture on a motorway means driving to a position of safety, taking care to do so in hazardous conditions. Exiting the motorway at the next junction or pulling onto the hard shoulder with hazard warning lights in operation will allow you to call for assistance from a safe position.
If you do stop on the hard shoulder, ensure that your wheels are turned to the left and that all occupants exit the vehicle immediately, remaining behind and at the other side of the barrier. If you are on a smart motorway the same advice applies although in place of a hard shoulder, there will be an Emergency Refuge Area (ERA) every 1.5 miles, often indicated by orange coloured tarmac. From here you’ll be able to use the ERA emergency phone to call for assistance.
What do I do if I have to stop in roadworks or in traffic?
This is a topical question, given the number of alterations and repairs happening constantly on the UK road network. There is often no hard shoulder in operation and our advice here is to turn on hazard warning lights and, if possible, move to the inside lane, keeping seat belts fastening for all occupants. Telephoning for assistance at this point is permissible for genuine emergencies and the added benefit is the likelihood that your vehicle will be picked up on CCTV to alert emergency and rescue services.
The same advice applies if you are on a smart motorway and unable to make it to the nearest Emergency Refuge Area. The Highways Agency will generally come to your aid if there are no emergency phones in operation, a motorway has narrower widths than normal, there’s no access to a layby or the hard shoulder is non-existent or in use as a lane itself.
Did you know?
Protyre offer free tyre checks at all of our garages. Click the button below to book your vehicle in today.
Years of experience tell us that many tyre failures can be prevented through regular inspection and replacement. Checking your tyre condition at least monthly and ensuring that you choose reliable, quality tyre brands, such as; Pirelli, Falken, Sumitomo or Bridgestone will help to keep you, your passengers and other motorists safe.