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Highway Code · Rule 277

Highway Code Rule 277

Breakdowns and incidents (275 to 287). A legal requirement (MUST / MUST NOT).

  • Breakdowns and incidents
  • Legal requirement
  • OGL v3.0

What the rule says

Law · MUST

Rule 277 (Additional rules for motorways (rules 277 to 278)) If your vehicle develops a problem, leave the carriageway at the next exit or pull into a service area if possible (see Rule 275 for places of relative safety). If you cannot, you should Go left

  • move into the left lane
  • pull into an emergency area or onto a hard shoulder if you can
  • stop as far to the left as possible, leaving space to exit your vehicle and with your wheels turned to the left
  • if you can, stop just beyond an emergency telephone
  • switch your hazard warning lights on
  • if it’s dark or visibility is poor, use sidelights. Get safe
  • exit your vehicle by the side furthest from traffic, if it is safe and possible to do so, and ensure passengers do the same If you can’t
  • get your vehicle to the left lane or a place of relative safety (see Rule 275), and
  • exit your vehicle safely to get well away from it and moving traffic, you should
  • stay in your vehicle
  • keep your seat belts and hazard warning lights on
  • call 999 immediately and ask for the police. Alternatively, press your SOS button if your vehicle has one and ask for the police.
  • put on high-visibility clothing if you have it and it is within easy reach
  • get behind a safety barrier where there is one, but be aware of any unseen hazards such as sudden drops, uneven ground or debris

DO NOT stand in a place where your vehicle could be forced into you if moving traffic collides with it

DO NOT return to your vehicle even if it’s raining, cold or dark

  • remain alert and aware of vehicles or debris coming towards you
  • keep passengers away from the carriageway and children under control

DO NOT attempt repairs on your vehicle

DO NOT place a warning triangle on the carriageway

  • animals MUST be kept in the vehicle or, in an emergency, under control on the verge. Rule 277: Keep well away from your vehicle and moving traffic Rule 277: Keep well away from your vehicle and moving traffic Get help
  • use the free emergency telephone to obtain advice and assistance
  • contact a breakdown recovery service
  • always face the traffic when you speak to remain aware of vehicles or debris coming towards you
  • inform them if you are a vulnerable motorist such as disabled, older or travelling alone
  • wait well away from your vehicle and moving traffic, behind the safety barrier where there is one
  • if you are unable to exit your vehicle or if you have not stopped near a free emergency telephone, call 999 immediately and ask for the police. Alternatively, press your SOS button if your vehicle has one and ask for the…

Rule text reproduced verbatim from the official Highway Code (Crown copyright) under the Open Government Licence v3.0, see the attribution at the foot of this page.

In plain English

Stripped of the formal wording, Rule 277 comes down to one idea: rule 277 (Additional rules for motorways (rules 277 to 278)) If your vehicle develops a problem, leave the carriageway at the next exit or pull into a service area if possible (see Rule 275 for place… Because it is written with “MUST” or “MUST NOT”, it carries the force of law, ignore it and you are committing an offence, not simply driving badly.

It belongs to the breakdowns and incidents part of the Code, the habits a confident, considerate driver builds until they are automatic. The aim is not to memorise the sentence word for word, but to understand the hazard it protects you from, so you apply it without having to think when it counts.

If you are learning, treat this rule as one piece of a connected set rather than an isolated fact. The related rules below sit in the same section and reinforce each other, reading them together is how the breakdowns and incidents part of the Code starts to feel like common sense rather than a list to revise.

Because this is a legal rule, the consequences of ignoring it reach beyond the test: a “MUST” or “MUST NOT” breach can mean a fixed penalty, points on your licence, or in serious cases prosecution. Either way, the safe move is to build the habit early, while a driving instructor can correct it, rather than relearning it under test pressure. That is exactly what the practice routes and coaching in the DriveRoutes app are designed to help with, turning the rules below into the way you naturally drive.

Why rule 277 matters on the road

How you behave after a breakdown or incident protects you, your passengers and the people who stop to help. A calm, well-rehearsed response prevents a bad situation from becoming a dangerous one.

Common faults examiners record

In the breakdowns and incidents part of the Code, the faults most often written on the marking sheet tend to be the same handful. Knowing them in advance is the quickest way to drive them out of your own habits:

  • Acting too late because the situation was read close rather than early.
  • Incomplete observation before committing to a manoeuvre.
  • An unsuitable speed for the road, the traffic or the conditions.

On the day

On the day, applying Rule 277 is about doing the safe, deliberate thing slightly earlier than feels necessary: read the situation in good time, observe fully, and act smoothly. The examiner is looking for planned driving, not perfection, and good habits formed in lessons carry you through.

Quick checklist

  • Read the situation early and plan your response.
  • Observe fully before you commit to anything.
  • Keep your speed suitable for the road and conditions.

More from Breakdowns and incidents

Related Highway Code rules

Rule 277, your questions

Rule 277 (Additional rules for motorways (rules 277 to 278)) If your vehicle develops a problem, leave the carriageway at the next exit or pull into a service area if possible (see Rule 275 for place… It is a legal requirement, it uses “MUST” or “MUST NOT”, so breaking it is a criminal offence that can mean a fine, penalty points, or disqualification.

DriveRoutes is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).