A highways emergency is an issue that poses an immediate risk to the public. Examples of issues that are considered a highways emergency are:
- road collapse
- landslide resulting in all or part of the road being impassable
- fallen tree or branch blocking all or part of the road
- structure collapse, for example a bridge or wall
- manholes or gratings missing, broken or collapsed
- traffic lights not working
- exposed wires on streetlights
- fallen road sign or a sign likely to fall
- flooding making the road impassable
- dead animal in the road