Accidents

What to do at the scene of a road traffic collision — first aid, reporting, hazard warnings.

What this topic covers

What to do at the scene of a road traffic collision — first aid, reporting, hazard warnings. The full Motorcycle Theory Test app contains 59 questions on this topic, drawn from the official DVSA bank.

Worked examples

Here are a few practice questions from this topic. Try answering each before reading the explanation.

Example 1

Your motorcycle has broken down on a motorway. How will you know the direction of the nearest emergency telephone?

A. By walking with the flow of traffic
B. By following an arrow on a marker post ✓ correct
C. By walking against the flow of traffic
D. By remembering where the last phone was

Explanation: If you break down on a motorway pull onto the hard shoulder and stop as far over to the left as you can. Switch on hazard lights (if fitted) and go to the nearest emergency telephone. Marker posts spaced every 100 metres will show you where the nearest telephone is.

Example 2

Your motorcycle breaks down in a tunnel. What should you do?

A. Stay with your motorcycle and wait for the Police
B. Stand in the lane behind your motorcycle to warn others
C. Stand in front of your motorcycle to warn oncoming drivers
D. Switch on hazard lights then go and call for help immediately ✓ correct

Explanation: Any broken down vehicle in a tunnel can cause serious congestion and danger to other traffic and drivers. If you break down you should get help without delay. Switch on your hazard warning lights and then go to an emergency telephone point to call for help.

Example 3

You see a car on the hard shoulder of a motorway with a HELP pennant displayed. This means the driver is most likely to be

A. a disabled person ✓ correct
B. first aid trained
C. a foreign visitor
D. a rescue patrol person

Explanation: If a disabled driver’s vehicle breaks down and they are unable to walk to an emergency phone, they are advised to stay in their car and switch on the hazard warning lights. They may also display a 'Help’ pennant in their vehicle.

Example 4

You arrive at the scene of a crash. Someone is bleeding badly from an arm wound. There is nothing embedded in it. What should you do?

A. Apply pressure over the wound and keep the arm down
B. Dab the wound
C. Get them a drink
D. Apply pressure over the wound and raise the arm ✓ correct

Explanation: If possible, lay the casualty down. Check for anything that may be in the wound. Apply firm pressure to the wound using clean material, without pressing on anything which might be in it. Raising the arm above the level of the heart will also help to stem the flow of blood.

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