Thursday has brought a mostly fine day to London and South East England, but the Met Office forecast says cloud will build late in the afternoon and evening before rain spreads east overnight with strengthening winds. That change makes the dry period before dusk the useful preparation window. A few calm checks now can reduce the chance of discovering a flat phone, an empty washer bottle or loose equipment after the weather has turned.
Use the dry evening for a five-minute vehicle check
Start with the parts that help you see and be seen. Clean the windscreen, mirrors, headlights and rear lights, then check that the wipers clear the glass without smearing. Top up the screenwash with the correct mixture. Look at every tyre for obvious damage and confirm the pressures when the tyres are cold, using the vehicle handbook or door-frame label rather than a guess.
Make sure there is enough fuel or charge for the next planned journey, and check coolant and oil only when it is safe and appropriate for the vehicle. If a warning light is showing or the car is not roadworthy, keep it parked and arrange professional help. Preparation is not a substitute for repair.
Charge the phone and make help easy to reach
The Highway Code recommends carrying a charged mobile phone containing emergency numbers. Charge it before the evening journey and save the breakdown provider’s details as well as a trusted contact. A phone should be mounted legally or stored securely; do not handle it while driving.
Place a high-visibility vest where it can be reached before you step out, not underneath luggage at the back of a full boot. Secure a torch and other kit so nothing can roll into the footwell or become a distraction under braking. Every regular driver should know where the kit is kept.
Know where a warning triangle is appropriate
On an ordinary road, the Highway Code says a warning triangle may be placed at least 45 metres behind a broken-down vehicle on the same side of the road, but only if it is safe to do so. Never use a warning triangle on a motorway. Do not take a risk by walking into traffic or standing where drivers may not see you.
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If a motorway breakdown happens, get left, get safe and get help
If the vehicle develops a problem on a motorway, move left into a service area or leave at the next junction if you can do so safely. If that is not possible, use the hard shoulder or an emergency area where available, stop as far left as possible, turn the wheels left and use the hazard lights.
When it is safe, occupants should leave by the side furthest from traffic, move behind a safety barrier and keep well away from the carriageway. Do not attempt a repair and do not place a warning triangle on the motorway. Contact the breakdown provider or use an emergency telephone. If you cannot leave the vehicle safely, keep seat belts fastened, switch on the hazard lights and call 999.
Finish the check before the first rain arrives
Put the phone on charge, clean the glass and lights, check the tyres, fuel or charge, and secure the roadside kit. Then look at the latest forecast and route immediately before departure because conditions may change after this article is published. The goal is not to predict every disruption; it is to make the vehicle, equipment and response plan ready while the weather is still calm.
Sources: Met Office: London and South East England forecast; The Highway Code: preparing for a journey; The Highway Code: breakdowns and motorway incidents; THINK!: vehicle safety checks.
