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What should you do if your car breaks down on a Danish motorway?

Step by step after a motorway breakdown

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Short answer

Steer onto the hard shoulder as fast as you safely can and stop as far to the right as possible. Everyone should put on a reflective vest, and the warning triangle goes about 100 m behind the car. Then get everyone out and over to the far side of the crash barrier, even in rain or darkness, and call your roadside assistance from there. If the car is stuck in a traffic lane, switch on the hazard lights and call 112.

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Why

  1. Rear-end collisions with stopped cars are common and serious.
  2. Behind the barrier you are out of the traffic.
  3. A car in a lane is an emergency, so 112 is the right number.

Details

If the car stands in the middle lane, staying inside can sometimes be safer than trying to cross the lanes.

Tip

Keep a reflective vest for every passenger in the car, and walk to the triangle along the far edge of the shoulder, away from traffic.

What may differ

In a lane the steps differ from the shoulder: hazard lights, vest and 112 come first.

Common misconception

Many people wait inside the car on the hard shoulder because it feels safer.

What actually happens

The advice is to get everyone out and behind the crash barrier, since a parked car on the shoulder can be hit from behind.

People also ask

  • Is a warning triangle mandatory in Denmark?
  • Should I call 112 or 114 in Denmark?
  • Can you stop on the hard shoulder to rest?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Traffic rules, fines and fees can change, so check the Danish authorities before you drive.

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