Your car jammed: Be visible, safe by roadside!

At some point, a vehicle will develop mechanical faults that may compel the driver to pull over to the side of the road.

The driver may suspect some­thing that they believe can be fixed on the spur of the moment, or the vehicle may suddenly break down, requiring special mechanical attention.

In such circumstances, the driv­er may have to seek assistance while the vehicle is in the vicinity of traffic, potentially posing a hazard to other cars.

This may be unavoidable, given the condition and roadworthi­ness of the vehicle.

That said, it is imperative that the driver of a broken-down vehicle, together with their pas­sengers, remains safe and takes precautions to ensure that the stalled vehicle does not pose a danger to them or other road users.

However, the situation often turns out to be one in which people pay close attention to the broken-down vehicle while exposing themselves to the risk of opportunistic accidents.

Move your vehicle to the side of the road

Depending on the size of the stalled vehicle, it is advisable to keep the roadway as clear as pos­sible to allow traffic to flow and avoid obstruction.

However, for large vehicles that cannot be pushed off the lanes, it is imperative that towing as­sistance be arranged as quickly as possible to avoid traffic con­gestion and possible collisions involving motorists who may not have noticed the hazard in time.

A number of stalled vehicles are left unattended on the road for hours or even days, and some be­come almost completely invisible at night. This situation cannot be entirely separated from the neg­ligence of drivers whose vehi­cles develop mechanical faults and are subsequently left in hazardous positions on the road.

Instal a reflective warning triangle

Oncoming traffic must be warned of the hazard so that drivers can reduce their speed, alert other motorists and find an alternative route around the stalled vehicle without colliding with oncoming traffic in the correct lane.

The warning triangle is best placed on the side of the affected lane rather than in the middle of the road, where it may be run over by vehicles. The appropriate distance from the stalled vehicle varies from country to country and depends on the nature of the road.

A distance of 45 me­tres would be ideal on a straight stretch of road, while plac­ing the triangle between 50 and 200 metres away from the stalled vehicle would better serve motorists on a curve, a cambered road or a gravel road.

Be visible, wear reflective clothing near your broken-down vehicle

Many motorists become so pre­occupied and anxious about their stalled vehicles that they pay little attention to their own safety. Drivers and their passengers may crowd around the vehicle, talking on their mobile phones without paying attention to the imminent danger of being struck by speed­ing traffic.

It is important to stay clear of the traffic lanes and wear a reflective vest to ensure that you are visible and identifiable from as far away as possible while using your mo­bile phone to seek assistance.