Emergencies and Accident Procedure
This domain covers what you must do at the scene of a collision and how to react when control of the vehicle is lost. The legal duties and the driving techniques are examined separately, so keep them distinct in your mind.
Duties at an accident
- Stop immediately, switch off the engine, set the handbrake and switch on hazard lights.
- Place the warning triangle well behind the vehicle: at least 15 metres in a built-up area and 30 metres or more on a faster road, farther still where sight lines are poor.
- Check for injuries and call 103 for an ambulance and 102 for police.
- Do not move the vehicles if anyone is injured. If there are no injuries and the vehicles block traffic, mark the positions and move them clear.
- Exchange name, licence, registration and insurance details with the other driver.
- Report the accident to the police, and do not leave the scene before that is done. Do not drink alcohol after the collision and do not argue about fault at the roadside.
Losing control
- Skid: ease off the accelerator, look and steer where you want to go, and avoid harsh braking.
- Tyre blowout: grip the wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator and let the car slow before braking gently.
- Brake failure: pump the pedal, change down through the gears and use the handbrake progressively.
- Vehicle fire: stop, get everyone out, move upwind and call 101.
Worked example
A minor collision with no injuries leaves both cars blocking a busy lane. Reasoning: because no one is hurt, you may move the vehicles, but only after marking their positions, so the traffic clears and the police report still reflects what happened.
Traps that cost marks
Driving on after a scrape; moving injured casualties; forgetting the triangle; leaving before police arrive; and stamping on the brakes during a skid, which makes it worse.