Driving past an accident scene
How to drive calmly, legally and safely when traffic is being guided past an accident scene.
When you approach an accident scene, you need to think about more than curiosity. Emergency crews, injured people, barriers and stressed traffic make the area vulnerable to new incidents.
What you need to know
- Reduced speed and clear focus matter more than getting past quickly.
- You must follow police, manual traffic control and temporary signals exactly.
- Unnecessary stopping or filming can be dangerous and disrespectful.
Typical situations
| Situation | What you should do | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency services in the carriageway | Follow directions and be ready for sudden stops. | Looking at the crash for too long and losing your line. |
| Queue after an accident | Keep your distance and be prepared for jerky traffic flow. | Driving too close because the speed is low. |
| Temporary diversion | Read signs and signals calmly before turning off. | Trusting your usual route or GPS blindly. |
Common mistakes
- Driving too fast past the scene because you think everything is under control.
- Becoming visually locked onto the accident.
- Stopping unnecessarily and interfering with rescue work.
How to practice
Read this together with Handling emergencies , First aid and behaviour at accidents and Police signals and manual traffic control .