Puncture on a motorway: what to do before getting out

Protecting people and the vehicle comes first; do not try to repair the tyre immediately. Follow motorway procedures and call for assistance if you cannot stop safely.

Reach a protected area

If you feel vibration, hear a noise or notice pressure loss, hold the steering wheel firmly, slow down gradually and move towards a lay-by or emergency area only if the vehicle responds and the manoeuvre is safe. Avoid sudden braking or steering. Do not stop in a running lane or cross the carriageway to reach a more convenient area.

Once stopped, switch on your hazard lights and follow the rules for warning traffic and moving people away. Put on a high-visibility vest before getting out, if the situation allows, and move behind the barriers only by a safe route. If leaving the car would expose you to traffic, stay in a protected position and call for help.

Do not change the wheel in a live lane

On a motorway, even a lay-by may be close to fast-moving traffic: do not repair the vehicle beside the road unless there is a protected space. Call roadside assistance using your phone or an available emergency device and give the motorway, direction, kilometre marker and conditions. If anyone is injured or there is immediate danger, call the emergency number.

Do not try to inflate or repair the tyre in an exposed location. A repair kit or space-saver wheel is not suitable for every type of damage, and using one does not remove the danger from traffic. Follow the recovery service’s instructions and do not stand between the vehicle and the carriageway.

After assistance arrives

Once the vehicle is safe, have the tyre, rim and valve checked. If you used a sealant kit, tell the tyre specialist and follow the product’s limits for reaching a repair location. Before setting off on a long journey again, check every wheel and the specified pressure.

Switch on your hazard lights and reach the nearest lay-by or emergency area only if the vehicle is still controllable. Put on your vest before getting out and move everyone behind the barrier if the route is safe. Call assistance with the motorway, direction and kilometre marker; do not change the wheel next to traffic.

To study safe driving behaviour, Quiz Patente Ufficiale offers chapters, timed exam quizzes and review of mistakes; on a motorway, call for assistance if your vehicle breaks down.