What to do at the scene of a road accident

Whether you’re involved in one or witness one, an accident can be a frightening experience. And if it’s severe, staying calm and knowing what to do during those first critical moments can help protect lives.

Here’s what you need to know if you find yourself first on the scene:

Pull over safely
• Turn on your car’s hazard lights.
• Stop safely on the side of the road and ahead of the collision, keeping the path clear for emergency vehicles.
• Place a warning triangle 45-100 meters behind the scene, or
• If the accident is on a blind rise or bend, consider stopping your car behind the collision in a “fend-off” position to warn other motorists.
• After dark, keep your car’s headlights on to light the scene and warn other motorists.

Evaluate the scene
• Take a moment to observe for traffic, leaking fuel, fire or unstable vehicles.
• Smoke or steam doesn’t always mean danger, but flames do – use sand or a fire extinguisher, not water, to put them out.
• Avoid moving injured people unless they are in immediate danger, then lay them on level ground.

Call for help
• Dialling 112 from any mobile phone – even in areas without signal – connects you to the police, ambulance and fire brigade.
• You can also call 10111 for the police and 10177 for an ambulance or the fire brigade.
• Provide your name and contact number, the location, number of vehicles and people involved, and visible injuries or trapped occupants.
• On national roads use the blue-and-white route marker boards to determine where you are – positioned 200 metres apart they indicate the route name, section, kilometre position, and direction of travel.

While waiting for emergency responders
• Keep the people involved calm and encourage the injured to stay still.
• For severe bleeding, apply firm, continuous pressure with a clean cloth – don’t lift to check on the wound.
• Cover fuel spills with sand to prevent fire and slips.
• If it’s safe and you know how, disconnect the vehicle battery to minimise sparks.
• Gather useful information on the injured for paramedics – names, symptoms, medical details.
• Note who is quiet, confused, or drifting in and out of consciousness.
• Don’t give food or drink, not even water, to anyone seriously injured – they might require surgery.

Stay prepared
• Keep a first aid kit, rubber gloves, water, a torch, and tools like a seatbelt cutter and safety hammer in your car.
• You might also consider having a small fire extinguisher and a reflective jacket or belt.
• Check that your vehicle’s warning triangle is in place.
• Save your medical aid and emergency contact info on your phone’s power screen or on a visible card or sticker in your car.
• Remember that vehicle tracking technologies can help in an emergency. For example, Tracker’s impact detection feature instantly alerts the control centre if your car is in an accident. If you're unreachable, emergency responders are automatically dispatched to your car’s location. Discover how Tracker’s technology can support you when it matters most.


What should I know?
What should I do if I arrive first at an accident scene?
Switch on your car’s hazard lights and stop in a safe location. Access the situation and call emergency services by dialling 112 from your mobile phone.

What should I do while waiting for emergency services?
Even if you aren’t trained in first aid, you can help by keeping those involved calm, applying pressure to bleeding wounds using any clean cloth, covering spilled fuel with sand, and getting more details for the injured – names, symptoms and medical conditions.

How can I prepare ahead of time?
Keep a first aid kit, rubber gloves, water, a torch, and tolls like a seatbelt cutter and safety hammer in your car. Save your medical aid and emergency contact info on your phone or on a card or sticker in your car.