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What should a driver do at the scene of a road collision, and what are their legal duties?

Emergency procedures at the scene of a collision - making the scene safe, calling help, basic first aid (DR ABC) - and the legal duties to stop and report an accident.

A CCEA GCSE Motor Vehicle and Road User Studies answer on what to do at the scene of a collision: making the scene safe, calling the emergency services, basic first aid, and the legal duty to stop and report.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.810 min answer

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  1. What this dot point is asking
  2. The answer
  3. Examples in context
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What this dot point is asking

CCEA wants you to describe the emergency procedures at the scene of a collision - making the scene safe, calling for help and basic first aid (DR ABC) - and to state a driver's legal duties to stop and report an accident. This is examined as a structured "describe what you would do" question and as a recall of legal duties.

The answer

Make the scene safe first

Your own safety and that of others comes first - you cannot help if you become a casualty too.

Call the emergency services

Call 999 or 112 and give clear information:

  • the exact location (road number, landmarks);
  • the number of vehicles and casualties;
  • any hazards such as fire, spilled fuel, or people trapped.

If there are casualties, ask for the ambulance; the fire service is needed if anyone is trapped or there is a fire risk.

Basic first aid - DR ABC

  • Danger - check it is safe to approach.
  • Response - see if the casualty responds when you speak to them.
  • Airway - make sure the airway is open and clear.
  • Breathing - check they are breathing.
  • Circulation/compressions - control serious bleeding with firm pressure, and begin CPR if they are not breathing.

Keep casualties warm, still and reassured, and do not move a seriously injured person unless they are in immediate danger (for example from fire), because moving them could worsen a spinal injury.

The driver's legal duties

Failing to stop or report an accident is a serious offence.

Worked example: arriving first at a crash

Examples in context

Example 1. The warning triangle. Placing a warning triangle well back on the approach warns other drivers in time to slow, preventing a second crash into the scene (but not on a motorway, where you stay off the carriageway).

Example 2. Reporting later. A driver who hits a parked car and cannot find the owner must leave their details and report it to the police within 24 hours, rather than simply driving off.

Try this

Q1. What is the very first priority on reaching a collision? [1 mark]

  • Cue. Making the scene safe (checking for danger).

Q2. What do the letters DR ABC stand for? [2 marks]

  • Cue. Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation/compressions.

Q3. State one legal duty of a driver involved in an accident. [1 mark]

  • Cue. Any one of: stop at the scene; give your details; report to the police if needed.

Exam-style practice questions

Practice questions written in the style of CCEA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.

CCEA style4 marksA driver comes upon a road collision. Describe the first actions they should take to make the scene safe and get help.
Show worked answer →

First make the scene safe: stop in a safe place, switch on hazard warning lights, switch off engines, and warn other traffic (for example with a warning triangle, well back); do not let anyone smoke (fuel may have spilled).

Then call the emergency services (999/112), giving the location, the number of vehicles and casualties, and any hazards (fire, spilled fuel, trapped people).

Do not move seriously injured casualties unless they are in immediate danger, and keep yourself and others safe from passing traffic.

Markers reward: make the scene safe (hazard lights, warn traffic, switch off engines, no smoking) and call 999/112 with location and details.

CCEA style4 marksOutline the basic first-aid priorities at the scene using the DR ABC routine, and state two legal duties of a driver involved in an accident.
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DR ABC: Danger - check it is safe to approach; Response - check whether the casualty responds; Airway - make sure the airway is open; Breathing - check they are breathing; Circulation/compressions - control any serious bleeding and begin CPR if not breathing. Keep the casualty warm and reassured until help arrives.

Two legal duties of a driver involved in an accident (any two): stop at the scene; give your details (name, address, vehicle registration and insurance) to anyone with reasonable grounds to ask; and if details cannot be exchanged, or someone is injured, report it to the police (within 24 hours) and produce insurance.

Markers reward the DR ABC steps and two valid legal duties (stop, exchange details, report to police).

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