Driver Duties and Responsibilities: Legal and Ethical Obligations
Duty beyond skill
A driver is responsible for the vehicle, the passengers, other road users and the scene of any incident. Duties include carrying required documents, obeying police directions, reporting collisions, rendering assistance, and not driving while unfit.
Fitness to drive
You must not drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication that impairs you, nor when excessively tired or medically unfit. If a condition or medicine may affect your driving, check before driving and inform the licensing authority where required.
At the scene of a collision
Stop, make the scene safe, switch off engines, warn other traffic, call emergency services, and give reasonable assistance within your competence. Exchange details as required by law. Do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger such as fire.
Documents and identification
Carry your licence, vehicle registration, insurance and any required test or permit documents. Produce them to police when lawfully requested. Keep the vehicle roadworthy: tyres, lights, brakes, mirrors and emissions.
Courtesy and environment
Duties are also ethical: avoid unnecessary noise and emissions, do not litter, give way considerately, and never use a hand-held phone while driving.
Traps
Questions often test the limits of duty. You are not expected to perform medical procedures beyond your training, but you are expected to call for help and not to leave the scene. Another trap is assuming a licence alone proves fitness - it does not.
Rule of thumb: At any incident, remember S-A-F-E: Stop, Assess and secure, get Further help, Exchange details.
Worked example: You are first at a collision with an unconscious casualty. The correct priorities are to stop, protect the scene, call emergency services and keep the casualty still and warm while waiting - not to drag them from the vehicle unless there is fire or another immediate threat.