Incidents, Accidents & Emergencies

If your vehicle hits and damages a railway bridge, what must you do as a priority?

• ADrive on to complete the delivery and report the bridge damage at the end of the shift
• BWait at the scene until another driver passes and ask them to report the strike for you
• CPhone the railway authority using the bridge identification number, then the police✓
• DInform only your transport manager, who will decide whether the railway needs telling

Answer: You must immediately telephone the railway authority using the bridge identification plate number so trains can be stopped, then report it to the police. A struck bridge may not be safe for trains to cross.

You arrive at the scene of a road traffic collision involving casualties. After making the area safe, what is a key priority?

• AMove all the casualties out of their vehicles immediately and lay them at the roadside
• BTake photographs of the scene for the insurance claim before doing anything else
• COffer the casualties food and drink
• DCall the emergency services and give a clear location and details✓

Answer: Once the scene is made safe, calling the emergency services with a clear location and description of the casualties is essential. Injured people should not be moved unless they are in immediate danger.

Your lorry is carrying a load marked with a hazardous-goods (ADR) plate and is involved in an incident. What is an important early action?

• AOpen all the packages to check the contents
• BWash the spillage into the nearest drain
• CKeep people away, warn the emergency services of the hazard and consult the transport documents✓
• DContinue with the journey on to the depot exactly as planned anyway

Answer: With dangerous goods, you must keep people away from the hazard, tell the emergency services exactly what is being carried, and use the transport documents and hazard information. This allows responders to deal with the substance safely.

Your lorry breaks down on an ordinary road. Where should you place a warning triangle, if it is safe to do so?

• AAt least 10 metres behind the vehicle
• BAt least 150 metres in front of the vehicle
• CDirectly against the rear of the vehicle
• DAt least 45 metres behind the vehicle✓

Answer: Rule 276 advises placing a warning triangle at least 45 metres behind a broken-down vehicle on the same side of the road. Warning triangles should never be used on motorways.

Your vehicle breaks down on a motorway. What does the Highway Code advise once you have stopped on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area?

• AWalk along the carriageway to warn drivers approaching the scene
• BPlace a warning triangle behind the vehicle, then wait beside the cab
• CGet out on the left, away from traffic, and do not return to the vehicle✓
• DStay in the cab with your seat belt on and wait for the traffic to clear

Answer: Rule 277's advice is 'Go left, get safe, get help': leave the vehicle by the left-hand door, move behind the safety barrier where possible, and do not return to the vehicle.

You are involved in a collision in which someone is injured, and you cannot give your details at the scene. When must you report it to the police?

• AWithin 48 hours, if the other party asks you to
• BNot unless your insurance company tells you to report it
• CWithin 7 days, by letter to your local police station
• DAs soon as reasonably practicable, and within 24 hours✓

Answer: Rule 286 says that if you do not give your details at the time, you must report the collision to the police as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours.

At the scene of a crash, when should injured people be moved from their vehicles?

• AAs soon as possible, to check their injuries
• BAfter you have taken photographs of the scene
• COnly when they are in immediate danger✓
• DOnce they say they feel able to stand

Answer: Rule 283 says do not move injured people from their vehicles unless they are in immediate danger, because moving them can make injuries worse.

How long does the Highway Code advise cooling a burn with clean, cool water?

• AAt least 2 minutes
• BAbout 1 minute
• CAt least 5 minutes
• DAt least 20 minutes✓

Answer: Annex 7 of the Highway Code advises cooling a burn for at least 20 minutes with plenty of clean, cool water.

An adult casualty is not breathing and you start chest compressions. What does the Highway Code advise?

• APress down gently, about once every five seconds
• BPress down 1 to 2 cm, about once a second
• CPress down 5 to 6 cm, about twice a second✓
• DPress down 8 to 10 cm, about three times a second

Answer: Annex 7 advises pressing down hard and fast, around 5 to 6 centimetres and about twice a second, until help arrives.

An injured motorcyclist is lying in the road. What should you do about their helmet?

• ARemove it so you can check for head injuries
• BLeave it on unless removing it is essential✓
• CRemove it at once so they can breathe
• DLoosen the strap and pull it off gently

Answer: The Highway Code says do not remove a motorcyclist's helmet unless it is essential, because doing so could make a neck or spinal injury worse.

You arrive at an incident involving a vehicle displaying hazard warning plates. What does the Highway Code advise?

• AGo close to the vehicle to read the load documents to the emergency services
• BUse water from a bottle to wash away any liquid that has leaked onto the road
• CSwitch off engines, do not smoke, keep well away and give the plate details✓
• DMove the vehicle off the carriageway so that other traffic can pass it safely

Answer: Rules 284 and 285 advise switching off engines, not smoking, keeping well away from the vehicle and giving the emergency services as much information as possible from the hazard warning plates.

A casualty is unconscious but breathing normally. What does the Highway Code advise while you wait for help?

• APlace them in the recovery position✓
• BLeave them and go to fetch help yourself
• CSit them up and give them a drink
• DStart chest compressions straight away

Answer: Annex 7 advises that if a casualty is unconscious and breathing, you should place them in the recovery position until medical help arrives.

Your lorry breaks down on a motorway with no hard shoulder and you cannot reach an emergency area or leave the vehicle safely. What should you do?

• AStay in the cab with your seat belt on and hazard lights on, and call 999✓
• BWalk along the live lane to the nearest emergency telephone
• CGet out on the carriageway side and walk back to warn approaching traffic
• DPlace a warning triangle in the lane behind you, then wait by the cab

Answer: The Highway Code advises that if you cannot get to a place of relative safety, you should stay in your vehicle with your seat belt on and hazard warning lights on, and call 999 immediately.

Your vehicle stalls on a railway level crossing and cannot be moved. What should you do first?

• AWalk along the track towards the next station to warn the train driver
• BStay in the cab and keep trying to restart the engine until it fires
• CPhone your operator's office for advice before doing anything else
• DGet everyone out and clear, then phone the signal operator✓

Answer: Rule 299 advises getting everyone out of the vehicle and clear of the crossing immediately, then using the railway telephone to tell the signal operator.