Vehicle breakdown
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Move out of traffic if you safely can, switch on hazard lights and call roadside assistance or emergency services for immediate danger. Give your road, direction and nearest marker. On a high-speed road, follow local road-authority advice about whether to stay belted inside or exit to a protected area.
Take it with you. Verify locally.
Downloads open without signup. External references are published material, not live instructions. Save them before an outage.
In immediate danger, contact local emergency services. Current instructions for your location take priority.
Do now.
- 01
Protect from traffic
Do not stand in travel lanes or between vehicles. Avoid repairs beside moving traffic.
- 02
Give a precise location
Share the road name, direction, marker and number of people.
- 03
Assess immediate danger
If fire, smoke or a collision threat makes the vehicle unsafe, move to a safe location away from traffic when possible.
- 04
Wait safely
Keep children and pets protected and conserve phone power. In remote areas do not wander without a known safe destination.
Next steps.
Carry water, weather protection, a charged phone and a vehicle kit. Check tires, fuel or charge before travel.
Watch for.
Exit choices depend on the road and surroundings; do not apply one universal rule to every breakdown.
Sources & context.
Original Osprey Zero summary of the references below. U.S.-based guidance unless noted; check authorities where you are. This page is not a live alert.
Updated 2026-10-02. Recheck official instructions during an active event.