It is vital that you park your vehicle on the side of the road safely so as not to cause additional accidents.
Remember to switch on the hazard lights so that other road users can spot the danger from a distance. Notice that if you have your low or high beam headlights on, your hazard light will not show. This is why you should switch on your parking lights.
All helpers at the scene of an accident should leave their vehicles safely. Wearing a high-visibility vest improves your safety, so keep them in your car. You can also shine a torch to improve your visibility.
Take the warning triangle 200–300 metres away from the scene of the accident. You should have a warning triangle in the boot of your car. Beware of other traffic when walking on the roadside and make sure you are visible to others.
When you approach an accident vehicle, pay attention to the safety features of the car. If the airbags have not deployed, carefully turn off the engine from the back seat to stop the airbags causing further injuries to the victims or helpers. Airbags are a safety hazard at this point because they inflate with great force and can cause serious injuries.
Pay attention to any smell of smoke or risk of fire. If there is a risk of fire, move the victims quickly away from the car.
Safety checklist:
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Make sure everyone, including yourself, stays safe at the scene of the accident.
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Switch on hazard lights.
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Take the warning triangle sufficiently far from the accident.
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Make sure you are visible to other road users.
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Beware of undeployed airbags.
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Be aware of the fire risk.