Staying Safe While Broken Down

Your safety is our absolute priority. Please follow these essential steps if you experience a vehicle breakdown.

1. Immediate danger (highways and motorways)

• If you are in a live lane or in immediate danger, call 999. Do not attempt to fix the vehicle yourself.
• If you cannot reach a place of relative safety, or cannot safely get out of the vehicle, stay in the vehicle with seatbelts on, keep your hazard lights on, and call 999.
• If you can get out safely. On a motorway, leave through the passenger side — the side away from traffic — and move behind a barrier if there is one, well away from the carriageway.
• Visibility. Keep your hazard lights on at all times. If it is dark or visibility is poor, keep your side lights on too.
• Follow the instructions of the emergency services and the road authority over anything on this page.

2. General breakdown safety

• Get to a safe place. If possible, pull over to a safe area, such as a designated lay-by, parking area, or a quiet side street.
• Visibility. If your vehicle is on a road, turn on your hazard warning lights to alert other drivers.
• Stay clear. Once you have requested assistance, wait in a safe, designated area. Do not stand near the vehicle, especially if it is on the side of a busy road.
• Stay updated. Keep your phone charged and available, so you can message the assigned Supplier through the website or call them.

3. Interacting with your supplier

• Verification. When the supplier arrives, feel free to ask for identification or confirm that the details on their vehicle match the information shown on the website.
• If you feel unsafe, you can end it. You have the right to end the interaction at any point. You can cancel your booking at any time while it is open — including after the Supplier has arrived — by choosing “I feel unsafe” on the cancellation screen. We will ask you to tell us briefly what happened. A photograph is welcome but is never required, and we will never refuse or delay a cancellation because you did not supply one. Where the concern is genuine, no cancellation fee is charged.
• Instructions. Listen to the supplier’s instructions regarding your safety while they are working on your vehicle, especially if they are loading it onto a recovery truck.

4. During the service

• Keep a distance. While the supplier works, maintain a safe distance. Do not attempt to assist with repairs unless specifically asked to do so, and only if it is safe.
• Children and pets. Ensure that children and pets remain in a safe location, away from the recovery vehicle and the road.

5. Reporting concerns

If you have any safety concerns regarding a supplier or if a situation feels dangerous, please contact us at admin@picklebreakdown.co.uk. In an emergency, always prioritise calling emergency services (999) first.