Puncture On Motorway

[Mike25]

You have a puncture on motorway and pull onto the hard shoulder. Do you change the wheel yourself or call the RAC (or similar)?
Asking because in work we are advised to call the RAC that can take up to 2 hours to reach you.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

...the beauty of runflats :-)

[themorrigan]

Being an avid fan of Emergency programmes I heard on more than one of these programmes that the correct procedure if you break down or get a flat tyre is to get everyone out of the vehicle and proceed up the embankment (if there is one) or a safe place away from the vehicle and call emergency services using the SOS or if all else fails the Police. Many people are killed on motorways every year because they either stay in their cars and get hit, or are outside the car trying to repair it. My friends hubby works for the AA and a motorway breakdown takes priority (in theory) over everything else.

[Old_Geezer]

I've done both at different times. Been some time since the last though. If you feel confident and are in a hurry, and have the tools then why not do it yourself. The company are probably afraid you'll let the car fall on you, or not do up the nuts properly. There is more claim against a recovery service than if you mess it up yourself. They are probably less concerned with delay.

[tamborine]

spritz with this & good for all bikes

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Finilec-Instant-Puncture-Repair-aerosol/dp/B002GPKQ6A

[joko]

OG - being confident is irrelevant - its about safety - this is not just a normal side of the road - its a motorway hard shoulder

if the issue was about the car falling etc then that could happen anywhere, on any road, so i doubt that's their motive.

[TWR]

Having seen many accidents heard of Deaths due to the Hard Shoulder, at times I have seen people changing the OFF/ Side wheel & coming very close to death by passing HGVs / Vans etc, what I can not understand with some people, they have at times ample room on their N/S on the grass to give them self plenty of space to work, If I used to see women with a flat tyre I would stop & change it for them knowing it would be safer to get them off the hard shoulder, on saying that If the poice wanted to be awkward, if seen they could have booked me, but the old school of police knew what the score was. "REMEMBER"

There are more people killed on the hard shoulder than on the Motorway itself,
Just a tip, if changing a wheel on the shoulder, KEEP LOOKING BEHIND, that way you may have a chance to get out of the way.

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe, but is the suggestion that the recovery service staff is dispensable whist you are not ? Someone has to change the tyre.

[joko]

?
no idea where you got that idea from OG ... no-one has said anything of the sort.

they are professionals and can do it quicker and safer that you can.. they can also tow you to a safer spot if need be.

it is also what you pay them for

[nannybooby]

ok , if you can get the wheel nuts off ( and if they were tightened by an airgun you wont!) ,use a jack and change a wheel ..then yes.

Be aware that if you have one of those get you home spare wheels you can only drive at a speed think its 50mph and then its only for a limited number of miles you then have to reduce the speed and the distance at that speed and so on and so forth.
Bet they never told you that !

[Stevesw]

If your using a company vehicle they probably give you the safest advise which is to call the AA to prevent any lawsuits if you got hit while repairing a company vehicle. I can change a tire quickly and know where all the bits that I need are in the car. If you've never changed a tyre before then AA everytime. best thing to do is always carry a small child with you in the car so you can tell the AA that they are distressed. they will be there in twenty minutes then. Or say your a female :-)