Support us

AccidentAustralia

Learn traffic rules with clear explanations and visual examples in our illustrated book, designed to make studying simple and engaging.

Traffic signs
Traffic rules
Australia

238. Accident

An accident is an unexpected event involving one or more road users that causes damage, injury or both. After a traffic accident, the first priority is safety: stop, protect the scene, assist injured people when possible and contact the emergency services when necessary. Drivers should avoid creating additional danger, exchange the required information and follow local rules for reporting the accident. Serious crashes may require the vehicles to remain in place until the police arrive.

A head-on collision is a traffic collision where the front ends of two vehicles hit each other when travelling in opposite directions.
Wikimedia.org • W. Robert Howell • CC BY-SA
What should you do first after a traffic accident?

Stop and make the scene as safe as possible. Warn approaching traffic, check whether anyone is injured and call the emergency services when necessary.

Should you move the vehicles after an accident?

This depends on the circumstances and local law. After a minor collision with no injuries, vehicles may need to be moved out of the traffic flow when it is safe. After a serious injury accident, they may need to remain in place for investigation.

What information should drivers exchange after an accident?

Drivers commonly exchange names, contact details, vehicle information and insurance details. The exact legal requirements vary between countries.

When should the police be called after an accident?

Police should generally be contacted when there are injuries, serious damage, disagreement, suspected offences or difficulty identifying the people involved. Local reporting rules may require police involvement in additional situations.

What is an accident report form?

An accident report form records information about the vehicles, drivers, damage and circumstances of a collision and can help insurers process the claim.

Can you leave the scene of an accident?

Drivers and other involved persons are normally required to stop and fulfil their legal duties. Leaving without doing so may constitute a serious offence such as hit-and-run.

1 Australia 2 Motorway 3 Residential area 4 Speed limit 5 Advisory speed 6 Bike path 7 Pedestrian warning 8 Bridge 9 Speed bump 10 Toll road 11 One-way traffic 12 Slope 13 Bus stop 14 Stop sign 15 Give way 16 Roundabout 17 Pedestrian crossing 18 Railway crossing 19 Mandatory direction 20 Turn prohibition 21 School area 22 Crossing animals 23 Slippery road 24 Curve 25 Chevron 26 Wrong-way driving 27 Height limit 28 Radar speed sign 29 Selective barriers 30 Traffic lights 31 Traffic lights warning 32 Pedestrian lights 33 Road markings 34 Left-hand traffic 35 Driving licence 36 Location marker 37 Emergency telephone 38 No parking 39 No stopping 40 Disabled parking 41 Traffic management 42 Reversing 43 U-turn 44 Uncontrolled crossroad 45 Oversize load 46 Licence plate 47 Charging station 48 Local traffic 49 Moped 50 Truck 51 Bus 52 Police 53 Ambulance 54 Pothole 55 Path 56 Particulates 57 Air pollution 58 Rush hour 59 Road code 60 Two-way traffic 61 Street gutter 62 Cargo bike 63 Forestry vehicle 64 Construction vehicle 65 Semi-trailer truck 66 Trolleybus 67 Speed pedelec 68 Delivery vehicle 69 Idling 70 Tow truck 71 Four-wheel drive 72 Bicycle 73 Motorcycle equipment 74 Tram 75 Rail track 76 Caravan 77 Trailer 78 Tow hitch 79 Fire truck 80 Siren 81 Convoy 82 Emergency vehicle lighting 83 Agricultural machinery 84 Electric bicycle 85 Electric vehicle 86 Pedelec 87 Quadricycle 88 Microcar 89 All-terrain vehicle 90 Van 91 Recreational vehicle 92 Scooter 93 Trikke 94 Personal mobility device 95 Skateboard 96 Segway 97 Kick scooter 98 Roller skates 99 Mailman 100 Hitchhiker ... 101 Toddler 102 Child 103 Disability 104 Motorail 105 km/h 106 mph 107 Speedometer 108 Ride height 109 Dirt road 110 Driving 111 Start-stop system 112 Manual transmission 113 Automatic transmission 114 Throttle 115 Tachometer 116 Steering wheel 117 Power steering 118 Visual scanning 119 Mirror 120 Fuel 121 Fuel gauge 122 Petrol 123 Diesel 124 Diesel exhaust fluid 125 Car insurance 126 First aid kit 127 Fire extinguisher 128 High-visibility clothing 129 First aid 130 Concrete step barrier 131 Barriers 132 Vehicle lights 133 Street lights 134 Dipped beam 135 High beam 136 Fog lights 137 Front fog lights 138 Rear fog lights 139 Side lights 140 Turn signals 141 Hazard lights 142 Dashboard lights 143 Bicycle lighting 144 Bicycle bell 145 Headlight flashing 146 Seat belt 147 Child restraints 148 Head restraints 149 Airbag 150 ABS 151 Esp 152 Traction control system 153 Helmet 154 Bicycle helmet 155 Hands-free 156 Smartphone 157 GPS 158 Brake 159 Handbrake 160 Brake fluid 161 Tyres 162 Tyre code 163 Winter tyres 164 Tyre pressure 165 Snow chains 166 Bicycle tyre 167 Continuous track 168 Gross Vehicle Weight 169 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 170 Cargo 171 Car body 172 Trunk 173 Roof rack 174 Windscreen 175 Emergency hammer 176 Car battery 177 Traction battery 178 Suspension 179 Shock absorber 180 Spring 181 Exhaust 182 Exhaust gas 183 Soot 184 Catalytic converter 185 Engine 186 Petrol engine 187 Diesel engine 188 Electric motor 189 Timing belt 190 Glow plug 191 Cylinder 192 Engine oil 193 Coolant 194 Maintenance 195 Spare tyre 196 Flat tyre 197 Jack 198 Vehicle inspection 199 Key 200 Dashboard 201 Windscreen wiper 202 Doors 203 Glovebox 204 Visibility 205 Rain 206 Fog 207 Hail 208 Sunlight 209 Sunglasses 210 Salt 211 Air conditioning 212 Hydroplaning 213 Distraction 214 Emotions 215 Road rage 216 Health 217 Epilepsy 218 Night blindness 219 Visual impairment 220 Fatigue 221 Defects 222 Traffic violation 223 Alcohol 224 Alcohol control 225 Ignition interlock device 226 Breath test 227 Breath analysis 228 Blood alcohol content 229 Blood test 230 Saliva test 231 Drugs 232 Medication 233 Penalties 234 Speeding 235 Smoking 236 Traffic enforcement camera 237 Double curve 238 Accident 239 Injuries 240 Nosebleed 241 Damage 242 Breakdown 243 Multiple-vehicle collision 244 Warning triangle 245 Traffic rules 246 Driving school 247 Traffic signs