Crime reduction 

Vehicle breakdown

Please consider the crime prevention advice below to make sure that you know how to stay safe if your vehicle breaks down.

• Be prepared. Join a breakdown recovery service, such as the AA, RAC or Green Flag.
• Always make sure that you have enough fuel for the journey – having your vehicle break down because it has run out of fuel is very frustrating. Have some spare change with you in case you need to refuel.
• Before you travel, check your tyre pressures, water level, and oil level. Also make sure that your spare tyre isn’t flat.
• Don’t leave your lights on when you leave your vehicle. You do not want a flat battery.
• If you break down - and you’re not on the motorway - call your breakdown recovery service and wait for them in your car passenger seat. This keeps you safe because it gives the impression that someone else may be nearby.

If you break down on the motorway

• Park on the hard shoulder and, if you can, put your hazard lights on. Get out of the car by the passenger door.
• Call your vehicle recovery breakdown service or use a motorway telephone (located every mile along the motorway). Tell the operator if you are alone.
• Leave the passenger door unlocked and stand on the embankment or grass verge away from the car and hard shoulder.
• If you're threatened by someone, get into the car, lock the passenger door and call police on 999.

Survival bag

Keep a survival bag in the car boot or in the dish of your spare wheel. The bag contains items that you may never need, but it's good to have them just in case you do need them.

Items that you may need if your vehicle breaks down could include:

• A torch.
• Jump leads.
• An approved fuel can.
• A personal attack alarm (with spare batteries).
• Money or a phone card for a phone box, plus a list of useful numbers.
• Pen and paper.
• A 'Help! Call the Police!' fluorescent sign to put in your window (available from car spares shops).
• Your car's handbook.
• Sensible, warm, waterproof clothing, a hat and gloves.
• A copy of the Highway Code.