If your car develops a problem on a highway, switch on the hazard lights, signal, reduce speed smoothly and move as far from live traffic as safely possible. Assess the immediate danger, choose the safest place for occupants to wait and call roadside assistance. Use emergency services for injury, fire, danger or a vehicle obstructing traffic.
1. Warn other drivers: Switch on hazard lights, signal and slow smoothly without sudden braking or swerving.
2. Get clear of live lanes: Move as far onto the shoulder or into another safe area as the vehicle and conditions allow.
3. Assess immediate danger: Look for fire, smoke, leaking fuel, injuries, fast traffic and the risk of another vehicle striking yours.
4. Choose the safest waiting place: Remain belted if exiting would expose occupants to traffic; otherwise use a safe passenger-side exit and move behind a barrier or well away from the road.
5. Call the right help: Share an exact location with roadside assistance, or call emergency services when there is injury, fire, danger or a vehicle blocking traffic.
Loss of power, smoke, overheating, unusual noises, steering or braking changes and red warning lights may indicate a serious fault. Keep control, avoid abrupt movements and create space around the vehicle. Do not continue driving an overheating car or ignore a critical warning simply to reach the next exit.
Signal early, check mirrors and guide the car smoothly towards the shoulder, emergency lane or another safe area. Avoid a blind bend, hill crest or narrow bridge when the vehicle can safely reach a more visible position. The AA emergency-driving guide recommends using hazards and moving as far off the road as possible. If the car stops in a live lane and cannot move, call emergency services immediately and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
Switch on hazard lights as soon as the problem becomes apparent. At night or in rain, fog, smoke or dust, use the appropriate vehicle lights as well. Visibility aids help approaching drivers notice the vehicle, but they do not make a shoulder or live lane safe to stand in.
There is no single safe answer. If the vehicle is fully off the road, there is no fire or smoke and leaving would expose occupants to fast traffic, remaining inside with seatbelts fastened may be safer. If a passenger-side exit leads safely away from traffic or behind a barrier, move everyone there. Evacuate for fire, smoke, leaking fuel or an immediate impact risk, and never wait directly in front of or behind the vehicle.
South Africa’s emergency-triangle guidance explains that Regulation 214 requires a compliant warning sign for most applicable motor vehicles, subject to listed exceptions. Deploy the triangle where it can warn approaching traffic only if you can reach the position without entering a live lane or exposing yourself to fast-moving vehicles. Personal safety takes priority.
Do not change a tyre, jump-start a battery or inspect under the vehicle beside high-speed traffic. Wait for trained help unless the car is well clear of traffic and conditions are genuinely safe. If there are visible flames, do not open the bonnet; move people away and call emergency services.
Call roadside assistance when the vehicle is safely off the road and nobody is injured. Call 112 from a cellphone for an emergency, 10111 for police or 10177 for an ambulance; these numbers are listed by the Western Cape Government emergency directory. Give the route number, direction of travel, nearest exit or kilometre marker, vehicle colour and registration, number of occupants and any fire, injury or traffic obstruction.
Contact the insurer or assistance provider before accepting a tow where circumstances allow. Confirm who authorised the operator, the destination, covered limits and any amount you must pay. Record the operator and vehicle details, remove essential belongings and do not sign incomplete documents.
Share your live location with someone you trust, conserve phone power and keep valuables out of sight. Stay aware of changing traffic, weather and personal-security risks. Do not accept assistance that feels unsafe, and call emergency services again if the danger increases.
Check tyres and the spare, battery condition, brakes, lights, engine oil, coolant and visible leaks before a long trip. Service the vehicle according to its schedule and investigate warning lights, starting problems, fluid loss, overheating and unusual noises promptly. Maintenance reduces preventable risk but cannot guarantee that a breakdown will not occur.
Comprehensive car insurance responds to insured events such as accidents, theft and specified weather damage, subject to the policy; mechanical failure is not automatically an insured event. MiWay says its comprehensive cover includes MiHelp roadside assistance for services such as flat-tyre, battery, fuel, towing, locksmith and safe-storage help. A separate Miway motor warranty may cover eligible mechanical or electrical failures. Limits, exclusions and costs remain subject to the relevant terms.
The safest action is the one that reduces exposure to live traffic. Hazards, a triangle and a roadside repair are secondary to getting people out of immediate danger. Reassess continuously: a safe waiting place can become unsafe if the vehicle begins smoking, visibility worsens or traffic conditions change.
A highway breakdown demands calm decisions: warn other drivers, move clear of traffic, protect occupants and call suitable help. Before your next journey, save the correct assistance numbers and review the benefits and limits in your policy, or compare a Miway car insurance quote. Cover and assistance remain subject to the policy wording, coversheet and benefit limits.
Switch on hazard lights, signal, slow smoothly and move as far from live traffic as safely possible. Assess injuries, fire and impact risk before deciding where occupants should wait.
Keep hazards on, call 112 immediately and give your exact location and direction of travel. Do not stand in the lane or attempt a repair; follow the emergency dispatcher’s instructions.
Remain belted when exiting would expose you to fast traffic and there is no fire or smoke. If a safe passenger-side exit leads away from traffic or behind a barrier, move there.
Call for injury, fire, smoke, leaking fuel, personal danger or a vehicle blocking traffic. In South Africa, call 112 from a cellphone, 10111 for police or 10177 for an ambulance.
Place a compliant triangle where approaching drivers can see it only if you can do so without entering a live lane or exposing yourself to traffic. Hazards and personal safety come first.
Only consider it when the vehicle is well clear of traffic and the location is genuinely safe. Beside high-speed traffic, remain in a safer position and call roadside assistance.
Give the route, travel direction, nearest exit or kilometre marker, live location, vehicle colour and registration, breakdown symptoms, number of occupants and any immediate hazards.
Confirm authorisation with your insurer or assistance provider where possible. Check the destination, benefit limits and costs, record operator details and never sign an incomplete document.
Not automatically. Comprehensive insurance generally covers specified insured events, while roadside assistance provides practical emergency help and a motor warranty may cover eligible mechanical or electrical failures.
Miway states that MiHelp can assist with flat tyres, flat batteries, fuel, towing, locksmith services and safe storage. Services, limits, exclusions and extra costs depend on the applicable terms.
