Photo credit: jf01350 via Visualhunt / CC BY
Rule 283
If you are involved in a crash or stop to give assistance at the scene of an accident you should:
Warn others:
Park your vehicle and then turn your hazard lights on, ideally facing approaching traffic. Also if you have a warning triangle proceed to place this in the road.
If there are other people who can help send them back along the road to wave traffic in order to slow it down. Take care on fast moving roads … Other drivers might not understand what you are trying to do.
Reduce risks:
Check the scene, make sure all engines are turned off, ensure nobody is smoking at the scene .
Get help:
Arrange for the emergency services to be called immediately with full details of the incident location and any casualties (on a motorway, use the emergency telephone which allows easy location by the emergency services. If you use a mobile phone, first make sure you have identified your location from the marker posts on the side of the hard shoulder)
Assess injuries:
move uninjured people away from the vehicles to safety; on a motorway this should, if possible, be well away from the traffic, the hard shoulder and the central reservation
Simple first aid:
- Don’t move casualties: As you could cause further injury, unless they are in immediate danger from fire or explosion
- Do not remove a motorcyclist’s helmet unless it is essential to do so
- Check for breathing: If the casualty is not breathing, clear the mouth (false teeth, chewing gum, sweets) very gently tilt the head back and, holding their nose, gently blow into them at five second intervals allowing the chest to exhale naturally. See the links below for detailed information and methods.
- Stop bleeding: Firm pressure on a wound will stem bleeding.
- Don’t give casualties anything to eat or drink: This can cause complications for medics and delay life saving treatment.
stay at the scene until emergency services arrive. If you are involved in any other medical emergency on the motorway you should contact the emergency services in the same way.
To read more about the Highway Code, click here.
This article is intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. Newnham & Jordan Solicitors cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article or any external articles it may refer or link to.
