Incidents Accidents and Emergencies

What is the first thing you should do if involved in an accident?

• ATake photos of the damage
• BMove all vehicles to the side of the road
• CCheck for injuries and call emergency services if needed✓
• DArgue with the other driver

Answer: Your first priority must always be to check if anyone is injured and call emergency services (999) if needed. Only after ensuring safety should you move vehicles (if safe to do so) and exchange details.

What should you do if you see someone collapsed at the roadside?

• AStop, check their condition, and call emergency services✓
• BMove them to the side of the road before checking their condition
• CWait in your vehicle for someone else to stop and help them
• DDrive past quickly to get help

Answer: Stop safely and check if the person is responsive. Call emergency services (999) immediately. Do not move them unless they are in immediate danger. Keep them warm and reassure them while waiting for help.

In an accident with injuries, should you remove a motorcycle rider's helmet?

• ANo, never remove a helmet
• BNo, unless it is essential for their survival✓
• CYes, but only once you have checked that they are conscious
• DYes, always remove it immediately

Answer: Do not remove a motorcycle helmet unless it is absolutely essential to maintain breathing or life. Removing it can cause further injury to the neck or spine. Only trained first aiders should remove helmets if absolutely necessary.

What should you do if your vehicle breaks down on a motorway?

• AWalk back down the motorway to the previous junction
• BUse hazard lights, get behind the barrier, and use the emergency phone✓
• CStand on the hard shoulder waving to traffic
• DStay in your vehicle with the doors locked and wait for another driver to stop and help

Answer: Switch on hazard lights and carefully move your vehicle onto the hard shoulder. Exit the vehicle and move to a safe location behind a safety barrier or away from traffic. Use the emergency phone to call for help.

What is RIDDOR?

• AA type of traffic fine issued for repeat speeding offences
• BA safety certification scheme for motorcycle riding instructors
• CA national breakdown recovery service for commercial vehicles
• DThe system for reporting certain workplace accidents✓

Answer: RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) requires certain workplace accidents and incidents to be reported. Road accidents involving injuries or vehicles used at work may need to be reported to the HSE.

What should you do if a vehicle is on fire?

• AUse the fire extinguisher if available and safe
• BKeep people at least 10 metres away
• CCall the fire service immediately
• DAll of the above✓

Answer: If a vehicle catches fire, immediately alert others to get at least 10 metres away, call the fire service (999), and only attempt to use a fire extinguisher if it is small and you are trained and safe. Do not enter a burning vehicle.

What is the emergency number in the UK?

• A111
• B118
• C101
• D999✓

Answer: The emergency number in the UK is 999. Call this for police, fire, ambulance, or any life-threatening emergency. The number 111 is for non-emergency NHS advice, and 101 is for non-emergency police.

When should you use hazard warning lights?

• ANever on a motorway, because hazard warning lights are only permitted when the vehicle is parked
• BOnly when turning
• CWhen warning others of a hazard, broken down on the motorway, or moving slowly in congestion✓
• DOnly in fog

Answer: Use hazard lights when broken down, warning others of an immediate hazard, or moving slowly in unexpected congestion (motorways only). Do not use them while driving normally or to acknowledge thanks from other drivers.

After an accident, what information should you exchange with the other driver?

• ANames, addresses, contact details, vehicle registration, and insurance details✓
• BOnly vehicle registration numbers
• COnly insurance company names
• DNames and phone numbers only

Answer: You must exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registration numbers, and insurance company details. Also note the other vehicle's colour and model. Document the location and time of the accident.

What should you not do at the scene of an accident?

• AMove casualties unless in danger✓
• BExchange names, addresses and insurance details with the other driver
• CTake photos for insurance purposes
• DCall the emergency services if anyone is injured or the road is blocked

Answer: Do not move casualties unless they are in immediate danger (such as from fire or traffic). Moving an injured person can cause further injury. All other actions (photos, calling services, exchanging details) are appropriate.

What should you do if you witness an accident but are not involved?

• ATake photos of the accident
• BMove any debris off the road
• CKeep driving and let others help
• DStop if safe to do so and offer assistance, call emergency services if needed✓

Answer: Stop if it is safe to do so and offer assistance. Call emergency services if needed. You may need to provide a witness statement to police. Do not move victims or interfere with the accident scene unless necessary for safety.

What is the most important reason for carrying a first aid kit in your vehicle?

• AInsurers require one to be carried in every private car
• BTo impress other drivers
• CIt is a legal requirement for all cars registered in the UK
• DTo provide immediate treatment to injured people✓

Answer: A first aid kit allows you to provide immediate treatment to injured people while waiting for emergency services. This can prevent serious complications and save lives. First aid training is also valuable alongside carrying a kit.

If a casualty is unconscious but breathing, what recovery position should they be in?

• AOn their side with head tilted back to keep airways open✓
• BCurled up in the foetal position with both knees drawn up
• CSitting upright against something solid to help their breathing
• DLying flat on their back with a coat folded under the head

Answer: An unconscious but breathing casualty should be placed in the recovery position (on their side) with their head tilted back to keep airways open. This prevents choking if they vomit. Check breathing regularly.

What should you do if a vehicle starts to aquaplane on a wet road?

• ASound your horn and flash your headlights to warn the traffic behind you
• BBrake hard immediately
• CAccelerate to drive out of it
• DEase off the accelerator and steer smoothly until grip returns✓

Answer: If aquaplaning (when water between tyre and road causes loss of grip), ease off the accelerator and steer smoothly straight ahead until grip returns. Do not brake hard or steer suddenly, as this will make skidding worse.

What is the correct way to treat a severe bleed before emergency services arrive?

• AApply a tourniquet tightly
• BApply pressure with a clean cloth and raise the injured limb✓
• CRemove any embedded object
• DWash the wound

Answer: Apply firm pressure with a clean cloth or bandage and raise the injured limb above heart level if possible. Do not remove embedded objects. Call emergency services. Keep the person warm and reassured while waiting.

You are the first to arrive at the scene of a crash. What should you check before approaching the casualties?

• AWhether the drivers involved are insured and taxed to be on the road
• BWhether the area is safe — warn other traffic and watch for danger✓
• CThe make and model of the vehicles
• DWhether anyone was speeding

Answer: Always check for danger first. Make the scene safe, warn other traffic and switch off engines before helping — you cannot help anyone if you become a casualty yourself.

A casualty is unresponsive and not breathing normally. What should you do?

• AGive them a drink of water to bring them round before calling for help
• BCall 999 (or 112) and start CPR with chest compressions✓
• CSit them upright against the car and wait to see if they start breathing
• DWait for the ambulance to arrive without touching or moving them at all

Answer: If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 999/112 immediately and begin CPR. Early chest compressions and a defibrillator give the best chance of survival.

When giving chest compressions to an adult, at what rate should you push?

• A100 to 120 per minute✓
• BAbout 200 per minute
• C40 to 60 per minute, pausing between each one
• DAs fast as you possibly can

Answer: Push hard and fast at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute — roughly two per second.

How deep should each chest compression be on an adult?

• AAbout 10 cm
• BAbout 5 to 6 cm✓
• CJust rest your hands on the chest
• DAbout 1 to 2 cm, just enough to feel movement

Answer: Compress the centre of the chest by about 5 to 6 cm (roughly one third of its depth), allowing it to come back up fully between compressions.

What does an automated external defibrillator (AED) do?

• ASupplies oxygen to the lungs through a mask so that the casualty starts breathing again on their own
• BAnalyses the heart rhythm and can give a controlled electric shock to restart a normal beat✓
• CStops external bleeding
• DMeasures blood pressure

Answer: An AED (defibrillator) analyses the casualty’s heart rhythm and, if needed, delivers a controlled shock. Using one quickly alongside CPR greatly improves survival from cardiac arrest.

While a defibrillator (AED) is analysing the heart rhythm or delivering a shock, you should:

• AKeep doing chest compressions right through the analysis and the shock
• BMake sure no one is touching the casualty✓
• CHold the casualty’s hand
• DPour water onto the pads to improve the electrical contact

Answer: Nobody should touch the casualty while the AED is analysing or shocking — contact can stop the device working correctly and risks shocking the rescuer. Follow the AED’s spoken instructions.

If you are untrained or unwilling to give rescue breaths to an adult in cardiac arrest, what can you still do?

• ANothing at all — only trained first aiders are allowed to help
• BGive them food or water
• CGive hands-only (compression-only) CPR✓
• DWait and watch until help arrives

Answer: Hands-only CPR — continuous chest compressions without rescue breaths — is recommended if you are untrained or unwilling to give breaths. Doing something is far better than doing nothing.

An unconscious motorcyclist is lying in the road after a crash but is not in immediate danger. What should you do about their helmet?

• ALeave it on unless it is essential to remove it to keep the airway clear✓
• BAlways remove it to check for injury
• CLoosen the chin strap and sit them up
• DRemove it straight away

Answer: Do not remove a motorcyclist’s helmet unless it is essential to keep the airway open, as moving the head and neck can worsen a spinal injury.