Pack vital medication to avoid breakdown emergencies

Drivers should take essential medication with them even on short journeys to avoid a breakdown becoming an emergency, says leading provider Start Rescue.

“We have seen a rise in vehicle breakdown cases involving drivers and passengers who urgently need to take their daily medication and are travelling without it,” says Lee Puffett, Managing Director of Start Rescue. “It’s concerning how many find themselves away from home without their medication and don’t expect their return journey to be hindered by the vehicle breaking down.”

A quarter of adults in the UK regularly use prescription medication, leading to a serious risk of drivers being stranded without vital medication if their vehicle breaks down.

Even a breakdown close to home can leave a driver too far from immediate access to their medication, especially if it needs to be taken at a particular time. With the added anxiety of dealing with a broken down vehicle, potentially serious health issues can be avoided with just a little forward planning.

Jasmine Shah, Head of Advice for the National Pharmacy Association, says: “We encourage patients to keep their medication with them while travelling, regardless of the distance involved. This includes taking enough medication to cover them for the trip or any delays they might encounter.”

Lee Puffett adds: “No matter how far you are going, keep a small supply of in-date medication in a safe place in the vehicle where children cannot gain access, such as a locked glovebox. Take a copy of your prescription, too, if you are going further afield in case you need extra, especially with the summer holiday getaway approaching.”

Always speak to your doctor, GP or pharmacist about travelling longer distances if you need to take regular medication and remember to take regular driving breaks. In an emergency, call for an ambulance or dial NHS 111 for non-urgent help.

A quick response is crucial in these circumstances. In the What Car? Survey of Best Breakdown Cover, Start Rescue came top for best response time, reaching 77% of call-outs in 30 minutes to an hour and didn’t leave anyone waiting for more than two hours.

Start Rescue also won best in the survey for performing temporary repairs that let people continue with their journeys.

Start Rescue has a 4.4-star rating on Trustpilot, a five-star Defaqto* rating and has achieved Which? Recommended Provider status for five years running. Start Rescue has also been awarded best Breakdown Cover provider in the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards 2024 (www.finder.com), scoring 4.9 out of 5 for overall satisfaction with a 94% recommendation rate.

Launched in 2009, Start Rescue is an integral part of the nation’s fourth largest breakdown and recovery service, Call Assist, which now has more than two million UK customers.

For further breakdown advice, please visit startrescue.co.uk.