A Friday evening 9pm and our car broke down in a live ('smart') lane of the M25. Watching my husband put a warning triangle out in the lane was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. The police response to a 999 call was fantastic. They contacted the Highways Agency, talked me through what to do and even before I'd finished speaking, the lane had been closed and the recovery vehicle was there. The HA guys who helped us couldn't have been more skilled, professional, kind and helpful, and never have I been more grateful for someone to take control of a precarious situation. All those drivers who complain of lanes being closed unnecessarily, might stop and think about those stuck in fear of their lives and those who come out to help them.