Road safety advice

What to do if you are involved in, or stop to give assistance after an accident

(source: Highway Code)

  • Use your hazard warning lights to warn other traffic.
  • Ask drivers to switch off their engines and stop smoking.
  • Arrange for the emergency services to be called immediately with full details of the accident location, any casualties and if they are trapped (on a motorway, use an emergency telephone situated on the hard shoulder as these provide an exact location for 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).
  • 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.
  • Do not move injured people from their vehicles unless they are in immediate danger from fire or explosion.
  • Do not remove a motorcyclist's helmet unless it is essential to do so.
  • Be prepared to give first aid.
  • 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.

If your vehicle develops a problem, leave the motorway at the next exit or pull into a service area.  If you cannot do so, you should follow the following advice, taken from the Highway Code:

  • Pull on to the hard shoulder and stop as far to the left as possible, with your wheels turned to the left.
  • Try to stop near an emergency telephone (situated at approximately one mile intervals along the hard shoulder).
  • Leave the vehicle by the left-hand door and ensure your passengers do the same.  You MUST leave any animals in the vehicle or, in an emergency, keep them under proper control on the verge.
  • Walk to an emergency telephone on your side of the carriageway (follow the arrows on the posts at the back of the hard shoulder) - the telephone is free of charge and connects directly to the police.  Use these in preference to a mobile phone.
  • Give full details to the police.
  • Return and wait near your vehicle (well away from the carriageway and hard shoulder).
  • If you feel at risk from another person, return to your vehicle by a left-hand door and lock all doors.  Leave your vehicle again as soon as you feel this danger has passed.