Can a taxi pick you up on a motorway?

blackstar

Hello all,

Just wondering if in a break down on a motorway in the UK and you have something important you need to get to, do you have to wait for a pick up truck to arrive or can the pick up truck just pick up your car without you being there?

Also if broken down on a motorway can and no way to get to where you need to be, ie no friends who can pick you up, can a taxi pick you up on a motorway or will a taxi driver refuse?

Also if your Dacia is broken down and it's still under warranty and it's outside business hours, can you ask the truck driver to drop it off at the nearest Dacia repair branch and then just call the Dacia branch first thing and just tell them it's my car in front of your dealership, please can you take a look at it? Just thought of a problem with that, can't really leave the keys in the car, jump in a taxi and leave car on its own until tow truck arrives. 

Also if you are broken down on a motorway do the police or the highway maintenance come automatically to your aid quickly?

elsien

Stopping on the hard shoulder is for emergencies. I think the taxi driver would struggle to show stopping to pick you up because you had somewhere better to be than with a broken down vehicle is an emergency.


https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/taxi-driver-amongst-motorists-issued-tors-for-parking-up-on-m56-hard-shoulder-near-airport

MalMonroe

Hard shoulder is for emergencies only. Taxi drivers should not even think about picking anyone up from the hard shoulder. 
Smart motorways don't even have a hard shoulder.

There's some useful info in this link  - 

https://www.safedrivingforlife.info/blog/cars/hard-shoulder-when-can-i-stop-it-and-what-do-i-do/

Info about what to do on a smart motorway - https://www.sytner.co.uk/news/smart-motorways

You're not allowed to park on the hard shoulder so no, you wouldn't be able to leave your vehicle to be collected by a recovery service. You have to wait with your vehicle.

blackstar

Thanks but if car can't be repaired and not enough space in tow truck for everyone in car how do you leave the motorway?

If you break down on a motorway how long do the police or Highway maintenance take to get there normally?

What the best option if needing to catch a flight in such a situation? 

unforeseen

What the best option if needing to catch a flight in such a situation? 

See if you can rebook to a later flight

dil1976

blackstar said:

Thanks but if car can't be repaired and not enough space in tow truck for everyone in car how do you leave the motorway?

If you break down on a motorway how long do the police or Highway maintenance take to get there normally?

What the best option if needing to catch a flight in such a situation? 

You need to ensure that your breakdown policy covers you for the amount of people you can carry in your vehicle.

Car_54

MalMonroe said:

Hard shoulder is for emergencies only. Taxi drivers should not even think about picking anyone up from the hard shoulder. 
Smart motorways don't even have a hard shoulder.

There's some useful info in this link  - 

Better still, read the Highway Code.

silvercar

blackstar said:

.....

Also if your Dacia is broken down and it's still under warranty and it's outside business hours, can you ask the truck driver to drop it off at the nearest Dacia repair branch and then just call the Dacia branch first thing and just tell them it's my car in front of your dealership, please can you take a look at it? Just thought of a problem with that, can't really leave the keys in the car, jump in a taxi and leave car on its own until tow truck arrives. 

.....

The part at the dealership you can definitely do. You can post the keys through the dealership letter box, or at least ask the tow truck people to do so.

As for leaving the keys in the car, if it is broken down no one is going to be able to drive off with it. Best to leave a note so the police don't think they have an abandoned vehicle to deal with, pretty sure this would be against the rules though.

Years ago we had a flat tyre on the motorway and the police appeared fairly quickly. Parked themselves behind us with their lights on until we were on our way. Judging by the number of vehicles you see parked in the hard shoulder alone, I'm not sure how often this happens today. Smart motorways are monitored remotely so you should have someone on the scene quickly, but there is no hard shoulder so it is more risky and you would be blocking a lane. I would think you are required to remain near your vehicle.

prowla

Yes, at the Services.

daveyjp

If you need to catch a flight that becomes the last issue to sort out.  Call for recovery, get recovered to wherever you want the car to be repaired or home, then sort out the flight.

Travel insurance will pay out for missed departure due to vehicle breakdown,

diystarter7

Hi OP

I hope this helps to make it 100% clear, from The National Highways  (Answer to your question is NO)

If you get into trouble on a motorway - go left

If your vehicle has a problem, or you get into trouble on a motorway, stay calm and try to exit at the next junction or motorway service area. If that’s not possible:

1. Put your left indicators on.
2. Move into the left lane.
3. Enter the next emergency area, or hard shoulder.
4. Put your hazard lights on.
5. Get behind a safety barrier where there is one - keep well away from moving traffic.
6. Call National Highways on 0300 123 5000, then a breakdown provider for help.

Use the free emergency telephone which connects directly to a National Highways regional operations centre and identifies your location.

Alternatively use your mobile phone to call us on 0300 123 5000 if you're unable to exit your vehicle.

We'll give you further advice and assistance based on your circumstance.

After your call to National Highways (and the emergency services if required), contact a breakdown provider. They may give you additional instruction.

The link covers samrt motorwars and a lot more and is clear and easy to follow, click on the icon in the link

https://nationalhighways.co.uk/breakdowns/#withouthardshoulder


Thanks