My wife, and our petrified dog were sheltering behind a barrier on the M5 after a tyre blow out. I phoned Highways Agency and explained our situation. They told me they do not send out or recommend any roadside assistance, then asked me for further details. I politely pointed out that giving him further details on the edge of lethal motorway traffic was not my immediate priority and rang off. After getting the tyre changed at services we continued our journey. We came across debris in the fast lane of the motorway, and it looked like a wheelbarrow. I called the Highways Agency and ended up 5th in the 'Debris on motorway queue'. I hung up phoned 999 and got instantaneous response and a thankyou - others had rang and they were dealing with it. So my point is - what is the point of the Highways agency as they seem thoroughly incapable of dealing with traffic emergencies.