Whether you’re on a short trip or a long haul, your safety matters.
Hard shoulder = emergencies only If you’re in trouble, only stop on the M6toll hard shoulder if absolutely necessary. It’s always safer to exit the motorway if you can.
Never pull over just to:
- Use your phone
- Look at a map
- Take a break
- Or anything else that can wait
In an emergency:
- Use the hard shoulder to slow down safely
- Watch for loose debris
- Pull as far left as you can
- Switch on hazard lights (and sidelights if it’s foggy or dark)
- Get out via the passenger side and move well away from traffic
Don’t try to fix your vehicle on the hard shoulder – use a motorway emergency phone.
Emergency phones on the M6toll Use the blue-and-white marker posts, which are spaced every 100m on the hard shoulder. They show you the way to the nearest phone (never more than a mile away), which connects straight National Highways who will contact M6toll Control Room.
When calling in:
- Read the marker post exactly as shown (e.g. “39 over 1”)
- This helps get assistance to your exact location fast
What to do if your vehicle breaks down on the M6toll
Waiting for Help?
If there’s a crash barrier nearby, please wait behind it. If not, move safely up the embankment or verge and keep an eye on the traffic around you.
Our Control Room will spot your vehicle through our cameras or be notified by National Highways, and we’ll send out our friendly Incident Support Unit right away.
While you wait, our team will make sure you and your passengers are safe and comfortable. We’ll offer you water, a hot drink, a waterproof poncho, or an insulation blanket if you need it. We’ll also take your contact details, give you some helpful safety advice, and place three traffic cones to protect the area while your recovery service is on its way.
And don’t worry—we’ll keep checking in with you from the Control Room until you’re safely back on your journey.
Getting going again Once your car’s fixed, build up speed on the hard shoulder, then merge safely into lane one when there’s a gap.