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by T. Perinpanayagam, (Former) Deputy Inspector General of Police (Traffic) Secretary/Ceylon Society for the Prevention of Accidents

Today the country has a vehicle population of over 1.8 million with the driving licence holders at 8 million.

About 90,000 vehicles are registered annually and about 100,000 driving licences are issued every year. The road accidents registered annually are well over 52,000 and about 2,000 road users die annually on our roads. On an average 5 to 6 persons die a day with 60 to 65 people suffering from injuries.

While the regular import of vehicles has increased progressively, road space has in fact shrunk, due to various factors making driving a science and an art of survival. 40 per cent of the accidents are due to high speed and speed-related accidents.

Large percentage of vulnerable road users in road accident victims are: Pedestrians 38 per cent, passengers 26 per cent and cyclists 14 per cent amounting to 78 per cent.

Traffic calming measures in the reduction of vehicle speed will help to reduce accidents involving vulnerable road users and severity of accident and injury to victims.

The following guidelines need to be obeyed and complied in case of an accident:

At the scene of accident you are obliged to perform certain duties. Stop, make the scene safe, - warn approaching traffic - assist injured, send for help, notify the police - gather information.

1. If you are involved or see an accident happen - the first thing to do is (a) Stop. (b) Use hazard lights as warning signals to protect scene.

2. Wait at the scene, but try not to block traffic.

3. Try to stay calm and ask assistance to assist injured persons or render first aid only if you are qualified and if the need arises.

4. Notify the police.

5. Call ambulance, if the need arises.

6. Warn oncoming traffic.

7. If it is a trivial accident and the parties involved settle amicably, remove the vehicles from the scene permitting the traffic to flow, report the accident at the nearest police station forthwith.

8. If the parties involved fail to settle the accident with mutual agreement, may mark the tyre positions and the place of impact by the opposite parties, and move the vehicles from the scene to the sides of the road to ensure a free flow of traffic and report accident at the nearest police station forthwith.

9. Where there is serious injury resulting from an accident do not move the vehicle or move the vehicle with the authority of a police officer.

10. If the injury caused appears to endanger life take that person to a hospital for immediate treatment even by using the vehicle involved in the accident if there are no other vehicles available and thereafter report the accident forthwith to the nearest police station.

11. If someone has been killed, do not move the body or permit anyone to move the body until the police or ambulance arrive.

12. If you are not trained in first aid you can do:

a. Send for help.

b. Help the injured, keep them warm.

c. To stop bleeding, put any clean cloth over the wound.

d. Give mouth to mouth artificial respiration, if a person has stopped breathing. Do not give fluids.

e. Move the injured if there is danger from traffic or fire as improper movement could be harmful with serious injuries.

13. If the accident involves a vehicle carrying dangerous goods (gas cylinders, petroleum products, chemicals) keep the public away. Do not allow any one to smoke within 100 metres. Secure the area and inform the authorities (police, ambulance, fire brigade).

14. Avoid moving the vehicle unless it is necessary to remove a trapped person or to prevent fire.

15. Gather information:

a. Date, time and location of accident.

b. Name of other driver.

c. Address of other driver.

d. Number of the other vehicle.

e. Driving licence number; Name and address of other driver's insurance company; Name and address of injured person or persons; Name and address of witness(es).

f. Make a diagram or sketch of the scene of accident.

16. Circumstances of accident - weather - condition of road - other conditions.

17. Name and address of the investigating officer.

18. Answer all investigating officers questions. Do not discuss the accident with anyone else.

19. Do not discuss who is at fault or details of the insurance coverage.

20. Notify your insurance company immediately.

21. Important - Due to anger do not damage to burn the vehicles involved in fatal accidents, since it would prevent/obstruct -

1. The investigating police officer from making any observation of the damaged parts, blood stains etc.

2. Examiner of Motor Vehicles from examining and testing the vehicle.

3. Government Analyst from scientific examination and

4. Payment of compensation to the accident victims by the insurance companies.

Keep these instructions with you or in your vehicle's compartment.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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