Roadside Stops: Safe Stopping & Hazard Light Usage

When you need to stop by the side of the road for a short time to check something outside your vehicle, or to look for directions on a map, for example, follow these directions for safe roadside stops.\n\nRoadside Stop Procedure:\n\n1. Before slowing down, check your mirrors and blind spot to see when the way is clear\n\n2. Turn on your signal before slowing down unless there are vehicles waiting to enter the road from side roads or driveways between you and the point where you intend to stop. Wait until you have passed these entrances so that drivers will not think you are turning before the stopping point\n\n3. Steer to the side of the road, steadily reducing speed, and stop parallel to the curb or edge of the road. You should not be more than about 30 centimetres away from it. Do not stop where you will block an entrance or other traffic\n\n4. Turn off your signal and turn on your hazard lights\n\nVehicle Positioning and Safety:\n• Stop parallel to curb or road edge\n• Position no more than 30 centimetres from curb/edge\n• Avoid blocking entrances, driveways, or other traffic\n• Choose safe location with good visibility\n• Avoid stopping on curves, hills, or near intersections\n• Use hazard lights to alert other drivers\n\nTransmission and Brake Settings:\nIf your vehicle has an automatic transmission:\n• Put the gear selector in park\n• Set the parking brake\n\nIf your vehicle has a manual transmission:\n• Set the parking brake\n• Shift into neutral if not turning off the engine\n• Shift into low or reverse if turning off the engine\n\nHill Parking Considerations:\nWhen parking on a hill, set your wheels against the curb, in the appropriate direction to keep your vehicle from rolling:\n• Downhill: wheels toward curb\n• Uphill with curb: wheels toward road\n• Uphill without curb: wheels toward shoulder\n\nSafety Tips:\n• Keep stops as brief as possible\n• Exit vehicle carefully, checking for traffic\n• Be visible to other drivers\n• Consider using emergency triangles for longer stops\n• Never stop on freeway shoulders unless absolutely necessary