I had thought we were discussing what to do at the scene of a serious accident. As such I found this, although it doesn't seem to have any "official" backing that I could see.

The general advice across the board seems to be that if you have first aid training you can attend to minor casualties, and if there is no further risk to yourself, attempt within limits, to keep a more seriously injured victim alive until professional help arrives. Otherwise assist in keeping the site as safe as possible until help arrives.

I have a basic first aid kit in my car and a fire extinguisher, never had to use them yet and I hope I never will have to.

General advice

I very much doubt if there will ever be anything official about what to do because incidents can vary so much in nature.

And yes I say incidents because breakdowns - stray animals etc in the wrong place can end up causing more serious problems.

In some cases (debris on road - breakdown in dangerous place - accident on other side of motorway etc) you are passed it and the only thing that you can do is alert the apropriate emergency services and carry on.

Unfortunately too many people assume that someone else has called it in and don't bother to do so.

In all incidences

LOOK --- Not just at what has happened but at other things that could affect the situation ie. traffic speed and density, visibility, weather etc.

ASSESS --- work out what needs to be done, that may be anything from a simple phone call and carry on going to the need for more serious action.

If the situation requires it

MAKE SAFE --- I have seen more than one minor incident on a major fast road when people start jumping out of vehicles with others trying to get passed the scene at dangerous speeds. Its easy for me - an artic makes a very good road block, but the slowing down or stopping of traffic can stop an incident getting a lot more serious. Please remember that people involved in accidents may not be thinking as straight as they could be and may not be fully aware of their situation or surroundings.

Only after all this has been done start looking at casualties, most of the time the best thing to do is to keep them calm and let them know that help is on the way.

Within the UK most of the time at serious accidents the first service to arrive is the ambulance, they will prefur to be able to get straight to work rather than having to play traffic cop, I have been thanked for providing this assistance on more than one occasion.

Hi-Vis vests and torch are also very useful items, and I always carry on my person one of the smaller swiss army knifes. I have had to use my first aid kit on numerous occasions but never at the scene of an accident.

This post is just general advice from someone that has spent most of his working life on the road and has had some experience in dealing with other peoples accidents.

It does not matter how skillful or professional a driver you are, it still does not stop some other idiot making a mess all over a road just before you get there.

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Kevin

It does not matter how skillful or professional a driver you are, it still does not stop some other idiot making a mess all over a road just before you get there.

True. Most accidents are avoidable.

As was this one

It does not matter how skillful or professional a driver you are, it still does not stop some other idiot making a mess all over a road just before you get there.

True. Most accidents are avoidable.

The first was, not much to be done about the rest, except don't drive under bridges.
http://abc7.com/news/2-killed-after-van-careens-off-101-fwy-overpass-in-hollywood/1738195/

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Let me just reiterate.
I am not trained as a first responder. Just because I build fire trucks for a living does not give me any special skills or insights as to how to respond to a traffic accident, although many of my fellow employees ARE trained first responders and many are volunteer firefighters with such skills.

It was not my intention to do anything heroic that night.
However...........
I did feel the need to stop and render aid if possible or necessary.
In this case, I WAS able to render aid in the form of contacting the authorities to respond to the accident, and they did so very quickly.
The only case I would have physically done anything would be if, for example, the girl's vehicle had started on fire and she was having trouble escaping from it. Or if a part of the car had landed on her and I could safely lift it off. Something that was immediately life threatening.
As it was, thankfully that was not the case, and I was able to limit my involvement to my cell phone call to get professional help on the way.

And I am very thankful that is the way it turned out.

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"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

The 11foot8 guy...........
His specialty? Low bridge crashes.

11foot8.com

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"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

Good job it didn't burst
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/38938615

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Truck blown off Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2017/02/09/tractor-trailer-overboard-bay-bridge-tunnel/97698360/

A tractor-trailer went over the side of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia on Thursday, killing its driver despite an impromptu rescue by the U.S. Navy, officials say.

The driver was identified as 47-year-old Joseph Chen of Greenville, North Carolina, according to Thomas R. Anderson, deputy director of finance and operation for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District. Chen was driving for Evans Transport out of Washington, North Carolina.

Day 2. Maybe wind not a factor

A preliminary investigation shows that Chen was traveling in the right-hand lane and attempted to pass a slower moving passenger car in the left-hand lane, said Thomas R. Anderson, deputy director of finance and operation for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District, on Friday. Slowed by another truck in the right lane in front of Chen, the tractor-trailer then went past it in the left lane, through the guardrail and into the water, he said.

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No Wyoming police officers were injured in the recording of this clip

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Knowing the road/area can often get one out of a sticky wicket. We were 2 minutes away from the slip road when it was flashed up on the info boards - J23/24 delays up to 40 minutes. By the time we got to the slip road, J23-26 A14 closed :-(

Carried straight down the A1 to the A428 slip road then all the way into Cambridge. Arrived at Addenbrookes 5 minutes later than normal :-)

Fortunately no serious injuries

People still like arguing with trucks :-(

Update

Poor sod, he won't have any money or time to enjoy St Paddy's Day :-)

Pilotless chinese taxi drone EHANG 184 to fly in Dubai by July.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rNWbpOsOvI
Safe? Maybe...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAvYwM70zH4

Just started watching on PBS NOVA: "Why Trains Crash"
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/why-trains-crash.html

New, 2/22/2017, Science & Technology, Documentary

Investigators examine the wreckage of famous train accidents and safety experts put their latest crash-prevention designs through trial, all to ensure that trains, which are essential for moving both freight and people, avoid collisions.

Check your local PBS schedule(s) to see if/when they will rerun it or check on the NOVA/PBS web site to see when it will be available to view on the www.

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Difficult to achieve safety when this occurs too often :-(

Often upon secret information that the public are not allowed to be privy to.

And how are you aware of that fact?

I'm kind to animals and I look after my granny.

Good for you :-)

Fiddling the books.

Money talks, safety walks.

Total utter Bollox. Nowhere in the UK is it safe for the public to drive on roads at almost 100mph, for any reason whatsoever, especially just a bypass.

Your constant reliance on profanities says much of your teaching skills.

Probably both in Lodge.

One of the reasons why there will never be roads safe enough.

People might be legaly driving / riding after getting 12 points on their licences but bet their insurance premiums are mega "loaded" probably to the same extent as a person who has just passed their test . £ 3000+ per year TPFT or even 3rd party let alone fully comp .
If you don't declare you have points it don't take much for insurance companys / police etc to find out and then the "shi#e hits the fan " especialy if you're involved in a accident .

When i got " pulled" over riding my motorbike the police man knew my name , convictions , insurance , mot details before they had even got out of their car !!

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Life is what you make of it :-)

When i'm good i'm very good , but when i'm bad i'm shi#eloads better ;-) In't I " buttercups " p.m.s.l at authoritie !!;-)

I had two friends who were magistrates (both now have shuffled off this mortal coil). Both had very "hard" attitudes to drivers won more than 12 points. They both had some very heated "discussions" with other magistrates when drivers got to twelve point, they both said that the biggest objectors weren't the funny handshake mob, but some of the "grey rinse" brigade. These people saw it their "duty" to allow the mum rushing to school at 70mph in the 30 mph limit with little Johnny kneeling on the front passenger seat, while still "getting over" the dozen large Vodka breakfast to keep her license as loosing it would impact on her family life. For those not familiar with the UK driving points system, you win three of them for having a child not properly secured, between 3 and 9 for the speeding, and an instant 12 for the driving over the limit, that's a minimum of 21 points, which equates to a ban. I can't remember what it would be, but at least a year, and an "extended re-test" to get back on the road.

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

Which is why I like the fact that Car & HGV licenses are no longer separate but on the one license document (photocard now that paper docs is no longer in use).

If you drive while drunk or under drugs and kill someone in Italy you are charged with "road homicide" under a new law and get a maximum of ten years in jail. Such punishment is rarely given, however, they always find some excuses for diminishing it, but it is a law.
Tullio

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In the UK a conviction for a drink drive offence is an automatic 12 month ban, full stop finish.

Should be a lifetime ban with NO chance of getting your licence back !!!
Drink Drivers are f - ing ars#wipes and 1 "rung " above "Rule 45's" !!

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Life is what you make of it :-)

When i'm good i'm very good , but when i'm bad i'm shi#eloads better ;-) In't I " buttercups " p.m.s.l at authoritie !!;-)

Tell Gertrude to get the pills :-)

Now that is the usual comments you were liked for in the past, so even though you still slipped in a comment slightly ott, a deserved +1.

As for your final sentence (pun intended) a well deserved +100.