Stopped on the hard shoulder
How to mark your car, where passengers should wait and why you should not stand behind the car on the carriageway.
when your car breaks down on the road: a guide for drivers
When your car breaks down on the road: a guide for drivers
A car can stop anywhere: on a country highway at night, in a queue leaving the city, at a petrol station in freezing weather. It is hard to think calmly at moments like that, so it helps to know what to do in advance. This guide collects what a driver needs until help arrives, with no service adverts and no promises.
People first, then the car: once everyone is behind the barrier, any breakdown can be dealt with without rushing.
What has happened?
Do you need a tow truck?
The types of vehicle available, how a wheel-lift differs from a flatbed and when a tow truck is the only option.
Towing
When a car may be towed on a rope or a rigid bar, what distance is required and when towing is prohibited.
What to carry
Warning triangle, vest, tow rope, jump leads, torch and gloves: a small kit that comes in handy more often than you think.
Guide sections
- Vehicles
The vehicles used for towing and roadside help: wheel-lift, sliding and tilt-bed flatbeds, crane trucks, on-the-spot repair and tow bars.
- Before a trip
Simple checks before a long trip: tyres, battery, fluids, lights, brakes and documents, with no DIY repairs involved.
- Car kit
What to keep in the boot in case you break down, and what to ask a towing service before your car is loaded.
- Breakdowns
Common roadside problems: the car won't start, a flat tyre, overheating, an empty tank, the oil warning light, keys locked inside.
- Reviews
An overview of the ways to get help on the road (tow truck, roadside repair, towing, insurance cover) and a catalogue of articles.
- Safety
How to behave on the hard shoulder after a forced stop: hazard lights, warning triangle, vest, where people should wait and what not to do.
- Questions
Answers to common questions about this guide, about tow trucks and towing, and about staying safe when you break down.
The first five minutes after a breakdown
Get out of the traffic
As soon as something feels wrong, move smoothly to the right: onto the hard shoulder, into a lay-by or a car park. If the car is still rolling, use its momentum so you are not left in a traffic lane.
Hazard lights and triangle
Switch on the hazard lights as soon as you stop. Then place the warning triangle at least 15 m from the car in a built-up area and at least 30 m away outside built-up areas.
Vest on, people behind the barrier
Put on a high-visibility vest before you get out. Let passengers out on the verge side and take them behind the crash barrier or well away from the road.
Assess the situation
Look at what has happened: a flat tyre, a warning light, steam, an engine that does not respond to the key. Note the nearest kilometre post or landmark, as that is the first thing you will be asked.
Call for help
If anyone is injured, there is smoke or people are in danger, call 112. Otherwise, decide whether you need roadside repair or a tow truck, and describe the car and the fault to the service.
The essentials in brief
Are you a towing service?
No. This is a guide: we do not attend call-outs, take requests or pass them on to operators. The site helps you understand the situation and choose help yourself.
Can you give me a tow truck number or price?
No, we do not publish phone numbers, rates or rankings. Instead, we explain what to ask any service before loading so that the final price and terms do not come as a surprise.
Can a car with an automatic gearbox be towed?
It depends on the model. Many manufacturers advise against towing such cars with their wheels on the road. Check the owner's manual: it says whether towing is allowed, at what speed and over what distance.
What should I do after a crash with injuries?
Call 112 straight away, the single emergency number in Russia. Mark the scene, do not move injured people unless absolutely necessary and stay on the line with the dispatcher.
About the project
Evakuator555 is an independent guide for drivers. This domain used to host a towing company website and later carried unrelated advertising. The current guide has no connection with either and does not restore their content.
We write about what to do after a forced stop, how to choose the right kind of help, when towing is allowed and how to prepare a car for a long trip. We do not name companies or brands, publish prices or give repair instructions beyond simple checks.
Read next
- Safety
How to behave on the hard shoulder after a forced stop: hazard lights, warning triangle, vest, where people should wait and what not to do.
- Breakdowns
Common roadside problems: the car won't start, a flat tyre, overheating, an empty tank, the oil warning light, keys locked inside.
- Vehicles
The vehicles used for towing and roadside help: wheel-lift, sliding and tilt-bed flatbeds, crane trucks, on-the-spot repair and tow bars.
Sources
- Russian Road Traffic Regulations (sections 2.3.4, 7.2, 20.3, 20.4)
- Vehicle owner's manuals (general provisions)
- EMERCOM of Russia — leaflets for drivers
Traffic rules are quoted from the Russian Road Traffic Regulations as in force on the date of preparation. Rules are revised from time to time and every car has its own quirks, so check the current text of the rules and your vehicle's owner's manual. If you drive outside Russia, check your local rules and emergency number.