Process · Safety
Staying Safe While You Wait for a Callout
The vehicle matters less than the people in it. Where you wait depends entirely on where you have stopped: a driveway or a car park bay is a very different situation from a live carriageway, and the right answer changes accordingly.
On a motorway or a fast dual carriageway the priority is getting behind a barrier and away from the vehicle, and contacting the relevant authority for that road first. We are not the right first call in that situation — safety is.
Key points at a glance
- Motorway or fast road
- Exit the vehicle, get behind the barrier
- Car park or driveway
- Waiting in the vehicle is usually fine
- Visibility
- Hazard lights on; sidelights in poor light
- Warning triangle
- Useful on ordinary roads, not on motorways
What this means in practice
- Hazards draw some current, but visibility matters more than saving a small amount of charge.
- Leave the vehicle by the side away from traffic where you are on any kind of running lane.
- In an unfamiliar or isolated car park at night, sitting in a locked vehicle in a lit area is usually the better option.
- Tell us if you feel unsafe when you call — it changes how we prioritise the job.
- Do not attempt to work under the bonnet on the traffic side of a vehicle on a live road.
Questions we get asked
Should I wait in my car?
In a car park, driveway or quiet residential street, generally yes. On a motorway or fast road, no — get out on the nearside and behind a barrier.
Will hazard lights flatten the battery further?
They draw very little compared with the value of being seen. Use them.
Who should I call from a motorway?
Follow the guidance for that road and contact the relevant authority or emergency services first. Once you are safe, we can talk about the vehicle.
Safe and waiting?
Call us with your exact location and we will keep you updated on arrival.
Related help & advice
Category: Process, cost & aftercare · Our services · Battery replacement · Areas we cover