DVSA Accidents and Emergencies 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What information should you give when calling 999 from an accident scene?
- Only your name
- Your location, number of vehicles involved, number of casualties, and any hazards present (Correct answer)
- Just the type of accident
- The registration numbers of all vehicles
Correct answer: Your location, number of vehicles involved, number of casualties, and any hazards present
Give the operator your precise location, the number of vehicles involved, number and apparent severity of casualties, and any hazards such as fuel spillage, trapped persons, or damaged power lines.
Question 2: What should you do if someone is trapped in a vehicle after an accident?
- Pull them out immediately
- Keep them calm, do not attempt to move them, and wait for emergency services (Correct answer)
- Rock the vehicle to free them
- Break all the windows for ventilation
Correct answer: Keep them calm, do not attempt to move them, and wait for emergency services
Do not attempt to move a trapped person unless there is immediate danger such as fire. Keep them calm, reassure them, and wait for the fire service who have specialist cutting equipment.
Question 3: After a collision, you discover the other driver is uninsured. What should you do?
- Let them go — it's not your problem
- Contact the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) and report to the police (Correct answer)
- Demand cash payment at the scene
- Only report it to your own insurance
Correct answer: Contact the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) and report to the police
Report the incident to the police and contact the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), which compensates victims of uninsured and untraced drivers in the UK.
Question 4: If a casualty has stopped breathing, what should you do?
- Place them in the recovery position
- Begin CPR — give 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths (Correct answer)
- Pour cold water on their face
- Wait for the ambulance — only paramedics should perform CPR
Correct answer: Begin CPR — give 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths
If a casualty is not breathing, call 999 and begin CPR immediately. Give 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths, and continue until help arrives or they start breathing.
Question 5: What is the correct procedure if you are involved in an accident that causes damage to another vehicle and the owner is not present?
- Drive away — you have no obligation
- Leave your name, address, and vehicle registration in a secure, visible place on the other vehicle (Correct answer)
- Only report it if there is significant damage
- Take a photo and leave
Correct answer: Leave your name, address, and vehicle registration in a secure, visible place on the other vehicle
If the other vehicle's owner is not present, you must leave your name, address, and registration number in a visible and secure place. If you cannot do this, you must report the accident to the police within 24 hours.
Question 6: When approaching the scene of an accident, why should you switch on your hazard warning lights?
- To illuminate the scene
- To warn other drivers that there is a hazard ahead and traffic is slowing or stopped (Correct answer)
- To signal to casualties that help is arriving
- It is a legal requirement at all accident scenes
Correct answer: To warn other drivers that there is a hazard ahead and traffic is slowing or stopped
Switching on your hazard warning lights warns approaching traffic that there is a problem ahead. This helps prevent further collisions, especially on fast roads or around bends.
DVSA Accidents and Emergencies 4
What information should you give when calling 999 from an accident scene?