It is slippery today, and that causes accidents on the road. But what should you actually do if your car slides off the road or hits something due to slippery conditions? What are you absolutely not allowed to do? And what are the consequences if you do leave?
According to Article 7 of the Road Traffic Act, it is prohibited to drive away after an accident in which you have caused damage or injury. This means that you always have to stay and share your data with the other people involved. If you drive without revealing your identity, you are committing a crime. Even if you are not at fault for the accident, you are obliged to stay.
But there is an exception: if you go to the police within 12 hours of the accident and report it, the offense of driving through will no longer be punishable. However, this does not apply if you leave behind someone who needs urgent medical attention. In that case it is always a criminal offense to drive away.
If you are involved in a traffic accident, follow these steps:
Stop immediately. It doesn’t matter how small the damage is; you always have to stop.
Get help. Check if anyone is injured and call 911 if necessary.
Share your data. Provide your name, address and insurance information to the other parties involved.
Take photos. Record the situation with your phone. This can be useful for insurance later.
Use a damage form or a damage app. Nowadays you can report damage via a special app on your phone. This is a handy replacement for the old claim form.
Driving after an accident is considered a serious offense. It can have major consequences, especially if someone is injured and needs help. By driving away, you abandon others and make it more difficult for the police and insurance to properly assess the situation.
If you continue driving after an accident, you may face various penalties:
A fine: Depending on the situation, this amount can increase considerably.
Community service or imprisonment: In serious cases, such as leaving an injured person behind, the punishment can be up to several months in prison.
Withdrawal of your driver’s license: You can lose your driver’s license for a long time.
You can also be punished for other violations, such as causing the accident itself. For example, if you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the penalty will be higher. The same applies if you were speeding or driving recklessly.
Sometimes you panic and drive without thinking. It is important to take action as quickly as possible. If you report to the police within 12 hours, you will avoid being prosecuted for driving through. Call the police on 0900-8844 and explain what happened. It is always better to report yourself than to wait for the police to find you.
Since 2020, the penalties for traffic offenses, such as driving after an accident, have been increased. This means that you can now be punished more severely if you leave someone in a helpless state. The concept of “reckless driving” has also been adjusted so that more dangerous driving behavior is punishable. The police have also been given more powers to track down drivers who continue driving after a serious accident.
Rules also apply in the event of a one-vehicle accident, for example if you leave the road or collide with a traffic sign or post. You are obliged to report the damage, especially if it concerns property belonging to the municipality or another person. You can do this by contacting the police. If you leave the damage without reporting it, you can be held liable and it can be seen as a criminal act. So always make sure you report what happened.
If you do not report it yourself, but a witness reports it, you are a suspect in a crime. Are you driving into a stationary car? Then try to find the owner. If that doesn’t work, leave your details under the windshield wiper of the car and report the collision to the police.
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