Vehicle Breakdown on Toll Road? Here Is the Safe Procedure According to Safety Expert

Jakarta — Experiencing technical difficulties resulting in a vehicle breakdown on a toll road represents an emergency situation that demands a swift and appropriate response from the driver. Incorrect action not only endangers the driver’s own safety but also risks triggering fatal accidents such as rear-end collisions from other vehicles travelling at high speed.

So what should one do if a car suddenly encounters trouble or breaks down on a toll road?

According to safety expert Jusri, if possible, the vehicle should not remain on the shoulder. “If there is a green verge (grass) available there, we should move away from the two-metre shoulder lane onto the grass. The car moves down onto the grass — ideally five metres away, or ten metres if possible,” Jusri told Kompas.com on Sunday (31/5/2026).

This approach is recommended because toll road shoulders in Indonesia are still frequently misused by undisciplined motorists for illegal overtaking from the left, leaving the shoulder position inherently risky.

Jusri further emphasised that standing in front of the car serves to protect occupants in the event of worst-case scenarios. “So if our stalled car is struck by something, the vehicle itself becomes a buffer (barrier), absorbing any collision impact from behind. You definitely should not stand behind it, as the threat comes from behind,” Jusri explained.