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12. Breakdowns and accidents (Rules 248 - 261)

Breakdowns
248. If your vehicle breaks down, think first of other road users and

  • get your vehicle off the road if possible
  • warn other traffic by using your hazard warning lights if your vehicle is causing an obstruction
  • put a warning triangle on the road at least 45 metres (147 feet) behind your broken down vehicle on the same side of the road, or use other permitted warning devices if you have them. Always take great care when placing them, but never use them on motorways
  • keep your sidelights on if it is dark or visibility is poor
  • do not stand (or let anybody else stand), between your vehicle and oncoming traffic
  • at night or in poor visibility do not stand where you will prevent other road users seeing your lights.

Additional rules for the motorway
249. 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

  • 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
  • do not attempt even simple repairs
  • ensure that passengers keep away from the carriageway and hard shoulder, and that children are kept under control
  • 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 (see Rule 257)
  • give full details to the police; also inform them if you are a vulnerable motorist such as a woman travelling alone
  • 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.

Laws MT(E&W)R reg 14 & MT(S)R reg 12

Keep well back from the hard shoulder

250. Before you rejoin the carriageway after a breakdown, build up speed on the hard shoulder and watch for a safe gap in the traffic. Be aware that other vehicles may be stationary on the hard shoulder.

251. If you cannot get your vehicle on to the hard shoulder

  • do not attempt to place any warning device on the carriageway
  • switch on your hazard warning lights
  • leave your vehicle only when you can safely get clear of the carriageway.

Disabled drivers
252. If you have a disability which prevents you from following the above advice you should

  • stay in your vehicle
  • switch on your hazard warning lights
  • display a 'Help' pennant or, if you have a car or mobile telephone, contact the emergency services and be prepared to advise them of your location.

Obstructions
253. If anything falls from your vehicle (or any other vehicle) on to the road, stop and retrieve it only if it is safe to do so.

254. Motorways. On a motorway do not try to remove the obstruction yourself. Stop at the next emergency telephone and call the police.

Accidents
255. Warning signs or flashing lights. If you see or hear emergency vehicles in the distance be aware there may be an accident ahead.

256. When passing the scene of an accident do not be distracted or slow down unnecessarily (for example if an accident is on the other side of a dual carriageway). This may cause another accident or traffic congestion, but see Rule 257.

257. If you are involved in an accident or stop to give assistance

  • 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 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)
  • 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 as shown in Annexe 7
  • 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.

Accidents involving dangerous goods
258. Vehicles carrying dangerous goods in packages will be marked with plain orange reflective plates. Road tankers and vehicles carrying tank containers of dangerous goods will have hazard warning plates (see Vehicle markings

259. If an accident involves a vehicle containing dangerous goods, follow the advice in Rule 257 above and, in particular

  • switch off engines and DO NOT SMOKE
  • keep well away from the vehicle and do not be tempted to try to rescue casualties as you yourself could become one
  • call the emergency services and give as much information as possible about the labels and markings on the vehicle. DO NOT use a mobile phone close to a vehicle carrying flammable loads

Documentation
260. If you are involved in an accident which causes damage or injury to any other person, vehicle, animal or property, you MUST

  • stop
  • give your own and the vehicle owner's name and address, and the registration number of the vehicle, to anyone having reasonable grounds for requiring them
  • if you do not give your name and address at the time of the accident, report the accident to the police as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours.

Law RTA 1988 sect 170

261. If another person is injured and you do not produce your insurance certificate at the time of the accident to a police officer or to anyone having reasonable grounds to request it, you MUST

  • report the accident to the police as soon as possible and in any case within 24 hours
  • produce your insurance certificate for the police within seven days.

Law RTA 1988 sect 170

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