What To Do In A Road Traffic Accident

High risk motor vehicle accidents on the motorways in UK

More than 250 people are killed on the hard shoulder of UK motorways each year, whilst waiting for breakdown assistance!

Leading motor vehicle insurance broker InsureYourMotor.com states that 12% of all deaths occurring on UK 's motorways, happen on the hard shoulder. Of those, 250 incidents or 40% are work related and happen between the hours of 12.00am and 6.00pm.

The primary cause of such accidents is fatigue and loss of concentration. Tired drivers focus on stationary vehicles on the hard shoulder, imagining they are following that vehicle, until it is too late and a collision occurs.

You are seven times more likely to be killed whilst sitting in your vehicle on the hard shoulder, as you are when walking on the hard shoulder. Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, women staying in their vehicle are more at high risk from a road traffic accident than they are from being attacked if they leave the vehicle.

You can survive the hard shoulder and help to reduce motorway death and injury by following these simple guidelines should you motor vehicle break down:

• Use the hard shoulder as a declaration lane before coming to a halt
• Watch out for debris on the hard shoulder that could damage your vehicle whist coming to a halt.
• Pull the vehicle as far to the left as you can, turning the wheels towards the nearside verge. Turn on your hazard warning lights and if visibility is poor, turn on your sidelights.
• Leave the vehicle by the passenger door. All passengers should take refuge behind the motorway safety barrier.
• If you have a reflective triangle in the car, set it on the hard shoulder 150 yards behind the car.
• Attempting to repair your vehicle is hazardous. Refrain if you can.
• Avoid using a mobile phone to gain help. It will not pinpoint your location.
• Walk to the nearest emergency phone, indicated by the markers on the motorway. The emergency phone will indicate your location to the operator. Ask the operator for assistance. If you are a member of a roadside assistance organisation, state which and they will be notified. If you are not, a tow vehicle will be called for.
• Face the oncoming traffic whilst you make that call.
• Return to the car, taking up position again on the bank or land behind the safety barrier.
• If you feel threatened, return to the car and wait in the front passenger seat with the doors locked.
• Once your car is repaired, join the motorway again, using the hard shoulder as an acceleration lane, in which you can reach a suitable speed at which you can re-join the inside carriageway.

To further minimise the high risk of accidents on motorways, never use the hard shoulder to:

• Go to the toilet.
• Use a mobile phone.
• Check a route map.
• Do anything else that can wait until you are in a safe place.

What to do when you are the first to arrive at an motor vehicle accident:

• The first rule is Don't Panic!
• Ensure everyone involved is safe. Switch off the engines of all vehicles involved. Activate hazard warning lights and alert oncoming traffic about the accident.
• In the event of serious injury, or obstruction, call the emergency services on 999 from a land line, or 112 from a mobile.
• Remain calm, do not admit liability or offer any form of settlement.
• By law the vehicles should not be moved. However if they are causing a serious hazard do so, but not until an independent witness has noted their position.
• After any form of accident you must, by law, STOP. Again by law, you must inform the police of the accident within 4 hours if there has been any injury. You are also bound by law to present your motor vehicle insurance details to the police within 7 days.
• Exchange details with the other parties involved. This will include: names and addresses of the drivers and owners of the vehicles, together with registration numbers of the vehicles and insurance details.
• Draw a sketch plan of the area, showing the road layout, the position of the vehicles involved, named of surrounding roads, traffic signs, road widths, markings and skid marks.
• If your vehicle needs moving, the attending police will arrange this and have it taken to a safe depot or garage.

What to do after the accident:

• Ensure that you contact your insurer or insurance broker and inform them immediately of accident.
• Your insurance broker will handle all the arrangements to get your car inspected by an independent assessor.
• If your insurance allows, your insurer will arrange for a replacement vehicle if yours is not road worthy.
• If the accident was not your fault, or any of your passengers were injured, it would be wise to contact a solicitor who will pursue a claim on your behalf.

Carry a check of this procedure in your vehicle at all times. Ensure you have your insurance brokers details and contact numbers as well as details of your insurer. All good insurance brokers will go out of their way to make the experience as easy as possible for you.