I was driving round the M25 and there was an accident in front of me, I could still get round so I slowed down, put hazards on but drove past and carried on my way.
What’s the actual protocol in those situations? I could see all the airbags were deployed, there’s nothing I could do for the people inside and for sure getting out on a motorway is a bad idea.
But I feel like I should have done something different. Can anyone with knowledge enlighten me?
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Roll your window down and yell “oi, you can’t park there” while you pass.
If you’re travelling too fast for this, a loud “WAAAAAAAY” will suffice
I think you have to use your best judgement.
If there was a multicar crash and you were early to the scene, you could pull around them and stop in front and go to check in the occupants but you are in danger if the traffic hasn’t slowed because someone else could pile into it.
In cases like yours, it’s often best to keep the flow of traffic moving and you did the right thing (including hazards). If you have a passenger, they should report it to the police so they can get a car out asap. You can feel a little… impotent doing this but often it’s the best thing.
Rules 282 and 283 of the Highway Code seem the key ones.
Oh yes, those are right on point thanks. You’re right, I did feel a bit unhelpful just passing by, but it looks like it was the right thing in the circumstances.
It sounds like you did. Too many people stopping to help would be a problem in itself. If you keep traffic flowing it means emergency services can get in easier and it reduces the risk of secondary accidents as inattentive drivers run into the back of stopped cars.
If you have medical training, that might be another issue and, I assume, doctors and the like would have been given more explicit advice for such circumstances.
There’s a difference between too many people stopping and no-one stopping though. In OPs situation it sounds like it was right in front of them. That’s different
Basically 3 points to keep in mind.
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Were you involved?
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Do you have useful and relevant information (e.g. a dash cam that captured what happened)?
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Can you provide additional aid?
The first one is obvious, if you’re involved, you stop and at least provide contact details.
The 2nd is harder, but not too hard. If it happened right in front of you, pull over somewhere safe, if possible. If you can’t, contact the non-emergency police line afterwards. They will be able to advise.
The last is the complex one. If you’re the first on the scene, any aid is better than one. If you’re not, then judge whether you can provide more help. E.g. 1 person trying to help multiple victims, or an elderly individual, who might not be physically capable of rendering aid.
A side note is providing protection. I drove a larger vehicle. I recently witnessed a motorway accident (driver fell asleep at the wheel). A depressing number of drivers were dangerous idiots. Several cars drove between stopped vehicles to get past. Some got very close to running over rescuers. I ended up using my van to block off the immediate area, and force traffic well clear.
Basically, keep yourself safe first, keep others safe second, render aid third. If you can’t do any of those, either wait patiently, or maintain the traffic flow as best you can.
A side note is providing protection. I drove a larger vehicle. I recently witnessed a motorway accident (driver fell asleep at the wheel). A depressing number of drivers were dangerous idiots. Several cars drove between stopped vehicles to get past. Some got very close to running over rescuers. I ended up using my van to block off the immediate area, and force traffic well clear.
That’s a brilliant point. My car once broke down on the motorway, I managed to limp it along at 25mph until I got to a place to turn off, and then it went on fire at the turn off which is a whole other problem.
But while I was limping along a big articulated lorry came behind me, held my speed, and put their hazards on to protect me, it was so good of them and kept me safe. I wish I could thank that guy/girl.
During the same accident I mentioned, a lorry driver involved possibly saved the other guys life.
The driver fell asleep at the wheel, and drifted into the side of an artic. He then drifted back towards the central reservation. The lorry driver, who was hit, actually forced his way across. This cleared the light traffic (a weirdly manoeuvring lorry gets everyone to back off!). He then deliberately hit/captured the out of control car, and held it straight as they both slowed down to a stop.
I was just behind all of this. However, several people had already jumped out to help, including the lorry driver. I initially gave them as much space as I could. I only moved up when several cars forced their way past, almost side swiping the rescuers. I was told the driver was injured, but fell asleep when I asked if they needed any more help. Last I saw, both were safely manoeuvred onto the hard shoulder.
Artics can be the bane of my day at times, but, when push comes to shove, they are DAMN good at using their rigs! They are not easy to drive, but would put ballerinas to shame, and make boy scouts look selfish.
That’s pretty clever. It all could have gone so much worse if you and them hadn’t been on your A game that day.
If you’re driving any distance, and you’re not at your A game, you’re doing something very bad. Even a small car, going fast enough, is easily capable of reducing a person to meat paste. If I’m in charge of a larger vehicle, I’m treating it with the respect it deserves.
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Former non uk firefighter here:
Rule number one is don’t worsen or add to an existing accident. If you can’t be absolutely sure traffic has safely stopped and is blocked, don’t get out. Not only can someone get hurt, but if there is another accident it can worsen the access to the first, potentially more serious event. Even then car wrecks themselves are dangerous. If you are capable of providing aid, be sure not to injure yourself in the process.
Calling 911 as soon as possible is best (safely). You could drive past and pull over, well ahead.
Ultimately use these notes as guidelines. You will have to use your judgement, and may one-day decide the potential outweighes the risks, and you’ll only have you to argue with in that moment
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911 works also, but yes it’s supposed to be 999.
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Just a sensible solution by the UK for dealing with stupid Americans. A bit like how Japan has a hotline for Japanese people in Paris having panic attacks over how filthy the place is.
We have all of the other emergency numbers too, cause tourists in an emergency don’t think.
In the U.S. (well at least in Utah were I live) it’s the law that you must stop and render aid when an accident occurs in front of you. Even if everyone is OK. I’ve been driving in Utah for 52 years, and seen many accidents on the road, and nobody here ever stops and helps. I think I’m the only one who actually has ever pulled over and helped at an accident scene, to get the drivers off the road.
But that’s also dangerous, because people getting out of their cars even after an accident here, are very often hit and killed by other drivers. In Utah, nobody stops for anyone or anything in their way, under any circumstances.
