Scotland's 'worst lay-bys to break down in' named as one tops UK list of shame

Daily Record

23-05-2025

Experts have named and shamed the places that are the worst to have a breakdown.
Scotland's "worst lay-bys to break down" have been revealed by car experts. And one even has the ignominy of being named the worst in the whole of the UK.
According to experts at ALA Insurance, monthly search volume around 'car breakdowns' has hit 199,000 as of May 2025. As a result, they have created a ranking of the worst lay-bys across the UK in which to have a breakdown.
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The experts considered a range of factors when putting together their ranking, including the distance to services, the average temperature, annual rainfall, and mobile signal. These were then combined to give an overall 'Index Score'.
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According to the experts, the worst lay-by to break down in Scotland —and the whole of the UK—is the one on the A713 near New Galloway. It received an Index Score of 8.3.
The lay-by is situated in the south of Scotland, a short distance from the town of New Galloway in Dumfries and Galloway. It scored poorly on distance to services, average temperature, and annual rainfall.
And its position on top of the list of shame was secured by its weak mobile signal, which ranked 120 out of 120 locations listed.
Meanwhile, the second worst lay-by in Scotland—and the whole of the UK, again—according to ALA Insurance is lay-by 99 along the A9 southbound. Located near Etteridge in the Scottish Highlands, it received an Index Score of 11.7.
While its mobile signal was significantly better than the A713, it ranked last for average temperature and also scored badly for rainfall and distance to services.
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The third and final Scottish lay-by to appear on the experts' list is the one along the A84 in the FK1 postcode. Coming in at number five on the overall UK-wide list, the lay-by was assigned an Index Score of 17.5.
Meanwhile, the other two in the top five worst lay-bys in the UK are one along the B4302 by Talley and another on the A483 near Gresford—both situated in Wales. Placing third and fourth respectively, they were assigned Index Scores of 12.9 and 13.1.
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ALA Insurance commented: "It's never an ideal situation when your car decides to act up during a long drive, especially during busier times around holidays, when motorway driving can be stressful enough as it is.
"It's clear this is on the mind of Britain's drivers, with the monthly search volume around 'car breakdown' hitting 199,000 as of May 2025.
"To help with this common concern and give you all the information you need on how to dodge the worst places in the UK for a breakdown to occur, we've taken a look at the quality of the nation's main roads and lay-bys."
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When setting out on a car journey, there is nothing worse than breaking down on a busy road. To help drivers this summer, ALA Insurance has also shared tips to prepare for a breakdown.
The experts suggest checking tyres, fluids, and battery before setting off on a journey. They also recommend always carrying essentials such as a fully charged mobile phone and warm clothing, and letting somebody know your route and estimated arrival time.
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Meanwhile, according to ALA Insurance, it is also a good idea to plan routes carefully—particularly if journeying off the beaten track. Other top tips include downloading offline maps and being prepared for all weathers.
The worst lay-bys in the UK
A713 - New Galloway, Scotland
A9 - Lay-by 99, Scotland
B4302 - Talley, Wales
A483 - Gresford, Wales
A84 - FK1, Scotland
A470 - LD3, Wales
A44 - SY2, South East
A57 - Cutthroat Bridge, North West
A37 - BA3, South West
A40 - LD3, South West
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