Traffic Accident Reporting

Traffic accident reporting refers to the statutory obligation and emergency procedure where involved parties, passers-by, or witnesses report an incident to the traffic police and emergency rescue agencies following a road traffic accident. Prompt and accurate reporting is crucial for initiating emergency rescue, securing on-site evidence, establishing liability, and restoring normal traffic flow.

Core Legal Obligations and Mandatory Reporting Circumstances

Under relevant traffic regulations, lodging a police report after an accident is a strict legal requirement rather than an optional choice for the parties involved.

In the following statutory circumstances, motorists must report the incident to the police immediately:

Casualties or Missing Persons: If the accident results in injuries (regardless of severity) or fatalities, the parties involved must report to the police immediately and call for emergency ambulance services.

Significant Property Damage or Disputed Liability: In cases involving major vehicle or property damage, or where the parties dispute the accident facts, cause, or liability and fail to reach a mutual settlement.

Commercial Vehicles or High-Risk Road Environments: Accidents involving vehicles transporting hazardous materials, school buses, or public transport vehicles, as well as any incident on expressways or urban highways that severely disrupts traffic. 

Suspected Criminal Offences or Traffic Violations: Where the other driver is suspected of drink-driving, drug-driving, driving without a valid driving licence, driving an unauthorised vehicle class, deliberately causing a crash, or committing a hit-and-run.

Key Information Required and Efficient Call Guidelines

When reporting an accident, drivers should remain calm and provide the following essential details clearly to ensure dispatch officers can send prompt, targeted assistance:

Exact Location: State the precise road or highway name, direction of travel, kilometre (KM) marker, nearby landmarks, or major junctions, avoiding vague descriptions.

Extent of the Accident: Clearly report any casualties (number of injured persons and severity of injuries), whether traffic lanes are blocked, and if secondary hazards exist, such as hazardous chemical spills or vehicle fires.

Vehicles and Collision Details: Specify the number and types of vehicles involved (e.g. heavy lorries, passenger cars), the collision type (such as rear-end collisions, side impacts, or multi-vehicle pile-ups), and whether any party has fled the scene. 

Stay Reachable and Follow Instructions: Provide your full name and an active contact number. Do not hang up until instructed by the operator, follow all safety directions given by the traffic police, and never leave the scene without authorisation.

Post-Reporting Safety Protocols and Compliance

Lodging a report is only the first step; while waiting for emergency services and traffic police to arrive, motorists must strictly follow these safety measures: 

Do Not Tamper with the Scene or Linger in Live Traffic Lanes: Except when necessary to rescue injured victims, do not move vehicles or debris. For minor fender-benders that do not completely block traffic, motorists may safely photograph and document the scene before moving vehicles to the road shoulder.

Preventing Secondary Collisions: On regular roads, place an emergency warning triangle 50 to 100 metres behind the vehicle. On expressways, strictly follow the rule to move the vehicle aside, evacuate occupants, and report immediately. All occupants should move safely behind the guardrail and turn on hazard lights, avoiding any lingering or arguments in live traffic lanes to prevent disastrous secondary collisions and mass casualties.