breakdown lane
noun
US
: an area along the side of a highway where vehicles are able to stop for an emergency
Examples of breakdown lane in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The law states that drivers approaching vehicles on the shoulder or in a breakdown lane must immediately reduce their speed to a reasonable level.
—
Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025
Those who support reopening the lane as a breakdown lane said the issue is an urgent quality-of-life matter.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 15 May 2025
More than a year ago, cycling advocates were bracing the breakdown lane to return.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 15 May 2025
Before installing the pathway, the third lane of the bridge had been a breakdown lane since the 1970s.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 15 May 2025
The vehicle then entered the breakdown lane and smashed into the cruiser.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 6 May 2025
The other driver then passed him before Bumgardner pulled fully into the breakdown lane and eventually stopped.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025
Bumgardner at one point put his hazard lights on and moved to the side of the road, allegedly straddling the fog line and partially in the breakdown lane, the report said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025
The dog can be seen running down the highway sometimes in the middle of the far right lane, at other times running in the breakdown lane, and even crossing three lanes to avoid the drivers’ attempts to rescue it, the video shows.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025
Those who support reopening the lane as a breakdown lane said the issue is an urgent quality-of-life matter.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 15 May 2025
More than a year ago, cycling advocates were bracing the breakdown lane to return.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 15 May 2025
Before installing the pathway, the third lane of the bridge had been a breakdown lane since the 1970s.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 15 May 2025
The vehicle then entered the breakdown lane and smashed into the cruiser.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 6 May 2025
The other driver then passed him before Bumgardner pulled fully into the breakdown lane and eventually stopped.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025
Bumgardner at one point put his hazard lights on and moved to the side of the road, allegedly straddling the fog line and partially in the breakdown lane, the report said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025
The dog can be seen running down the highway sometimes in the middle of the far right lane, at other times running in the breakdown lane, and even crossing three lanes to avoid the drivers’ attempts to rescue it, the video shows.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Breakdown lane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakdown%20lane. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share