With an increasing population of registered vehicles over the years, the number also comes with

burdens on our road infrastructure, law enforcement capacity and a high accident rate. According to

the department of transport, in 2013, at least 10 741 895 vehicles were registered, which has grown

to 11 127 925 registered drivers. In addition, a further 495 162 driver’s licences were issued in the

same year.

The recent Easter holiday season saw 22 crashes reported in Gauteng over the religious weekend,

resulting in 23 fatalities. Causes of the accidents include alcohol and substance abuse, reckless and

negligent driving, unroadworthy vehicles, and a total disregard for rules of the road.

Rekord compiled tips for road users, based on the National Road Traffic Act: Section 61 Accidents

and Accident Reports, on what to do in the event of a car accident.

Do not drive away!

If you are involved in an accident that causes injuries or a death, or damage to property or any

animal, you are required by law to stop the vehicle. It is a crime not to stop after an accident and

one could be fined up to R180 000 or sent to prison for up to nine years.

– Help anyone who is hurt

After stopping, you need to find out if anyone is hurt and help them as much as you can. You will

need to call emergency services. If you do not know anything about first aid, be careful not to do

anything that might make the injury worse. If you do not need to go for help, ensure you stay at the

scene until a police officer says you can leave. You can be criminally charged for failing to help

anyone who is hurt in the accident.

– Find out what the extent of the damage is

You will need to find out how much damage has been caused to the property. Give your name,

address and vehicle registration number to anyone who might need it.

– Get all relevant information

Try to get the following information from all parties and witnesses involved:

– Full names

– ID numbers

– Addresses

– Telephone details

– Vehicle registration number.

Also try to get description of the vehicles, details of police, traffic officers and ambulance personnel

and details of the tow-truck personnel. This information will help you if you want to make a claim

against insurance or the Road Accident Fund or if you want to claim costs of repairs from the other

party.

– Report the accident to police

The police don’t need to be called to the scene if no one is hurt, however, the accident must be

reported by both drivers at a police station within 24 hours of the accident. Give your name, address

and vehicle registration number to the police or traffic officer, either at the scene of the accident or

at the police station or traffic office. You must also show your driver’s licence. If you are hurt and

can’t report the accident immediately, ensure you do it as soon as possible and explain why there

has been a delay in the reporting of the accident. It is an offence to not report an accident in which

another person’s property has been damaged, or a person is injured, even if neither of the drivers

intends taking legal action.

– Do not interfere with the evidence

You must not drink alcohol or take any drugs that have a narcotic effect unless it is from the doctor.

If the police ask you to go for a medication examination, you must not drink any alcohol or any drugs

before the examination and before you report the accident. If anyone is injured in the accident, the

vehicles may not be moved before the police or traffic officers arrive and only move the vehicles

upon their instruction. If the accident obstructs traffic, the vehicles may be moved sufficiently to

allow traffic flow, but only after you have clearly marked the vehicle positions, with a chalk or spray

paint.

– Be aware of the possible legal consequences

Some of the possible legal consequences include a criminal charge of driving recklessly, a criminal

charge of driving negligently, a criminal charge of culpable homicide, a civil claim for damage of

property, a civil claim of personal injury.