Guidance on safe procedures for staff and students in respect of road traffic incidents and breakdowns If your vehicle breaks down, think first of all of other road users and; Get the vehicle safely off the road if possible. Where there are passengers, they must follow the instructions of the driver or the person responsible for the trip. When the vehicle is stopped all parties must exit the vehicle and move to a safe location, if safe to do so. -Warn other traffic by using the vehicle hazard warning lights, if the vehicle is causing an obstruction. Help other road users to see you by wearing light-coloured or fluorescent clothing in daylight and reflective clothing at night or in poor visibility. (University owned vehicles should be provided with at least one hi-vis tabard). If safe to do so, put a warning triangle on the road at least 45 metres (147 feet) behind the broken-down vehicle on the same side of the road, or use other permitted warning devices if you have them. Always take great care when placing or retrieving them, but never use them on motorways. If possible, the vehicle sidelights must be kept on if it is dark or visibility is poor. Do not stand, (or let anybody else stand), between the vehicle and oncoming traffic. At night or in poor visibility people must not stand where they will prevent other road users seeing the vehicle lights. -If a vehicle fire develops, get well away from the vehicle and call the emergency services. Additional rules for motorways If your vehicle develops a problem, leave the motorway at the next exit or pull into a service area. If you cannot do so, you should: pull on to the hard shoulder and stop as far to the left as possible, with your wheels turned to the left try to stop near an emergency telephone (situated at approximately one-mile intervals along the hard shoulder).
leave the vehicle by the left-hand door and ensure all your passengers do the same. Never attempt to place a warning triangle on a motorway. Leave animals in the vehicle. do not put yourself in danger by attempting even simple repairs such as changing a wheel. ensure that passengers keep away from the carriageway and hard shoulder. walk to an emergency telephone on your side of the carriageway (follow the arrows on the posts at the side of the hard shoulder). The telephone is free of charge and connects directly to an operator. Use these in preference to a mobile phone. Always face the traffic when you speak on the phone. This allows for easy identification of approaching hazards. give full details to the operator; also inform them if there are vulnerable motorists such as disabled, older persons, persons travelling alone or accompanied by children. return and wait near your vehicle. (Well away from the carriageway and hard shoulder, preferably behind the crash barrier). In any case keep well back from the hard shoulder If you cannot get your vehicle onto the hard shoulder do not attempt to place any warning device on the carriageway switch on the vehicles hazard warning lights leave the vehicle only when you can safely get clear of the carriageway. Disabled drivers If you have a disability which prevents you from following the above advice you should; stay in your vehicle switch on your hazard warning lights display a Help sign, and, if you have a car or mobile telephone, contact the emergency services and be prepared to advise them of your location. Obstructions If anything falls from your vehicle (or any other vehicle) on to the road, stop and retrieve it only if it is safe to do so.
On a motorway do not try to remove the obstruction yourself. Stop at the next emergency telephone, report debris on the road and call for help. Incidents If you see or hear emergency or incident support vehicles in the distance, (e.g. sirens or warning signs or flashing lights), be aware there may be an incident ahead. Police officers and traffic officers may be required to work in the carriageway, for example dealing with debris, collisions or conducting rolling road blocks. Police officers will use rear-facing flashing red and blue lights and traffic officers will use rear-facing flashing red and amber lights in these situations. Watch out for such signals, slow down and be prepared to stop. You MUST follow any directions given by police officers or highways safety officers as to how you can safely pass the incident or blockage. Laws Drivers must drive in accordance with UK laws in respect of roads and vehicles e.g. adhering to speed limits, the road worthiness of vehicles, driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs etc. Drivers must be licensed for the category of vehicle they are driving. Vehicles must be insured, taxed and MOT ed (where required). If you are involved in a crash or stop to give assistance; use your hazard warning lights to warn other traffic turn off your engine and ask everyone in the vehicle to refrain from smoking call the emergency services immediately giving full details of the incident location and any casualties. (On a motorway, use the emergency telephone if safe to do so. This allows easy identification of the location by the emergency services. If you use a mobile phone, first make sure you have identified your location from the marker posts on the side of the hard shoulder). move uninjured people away from the vehicles to safety, preferably behind the barrier. In any case this must be well away from the carriageway and the hard shoulder. do not move injured people from their vehicles unless they are in immediate danger from fire or explosion. do not remove a motorcyclist s helmet unless it is essential to do so. where it is safe to do so, and if you are trained, give emergency first aid.
stay at the scene until the emergency services arrive. If you are involved in any medical emergency on the motorway you should contact the emergency services. If your vehicle is involved in an incident involving a vehicle carrying dangerous goods, the vehicle should be marked with plain orange reflective plates. Road tankers and vehicles carrying tank containers of dangerous goods will have hazard warning plates. The driver and passengers must; switch off engines and DO NOT SMOKE. This and other sources of ignition can cause flammable loads to ignite. keep well away from the vehicle and do not be tempted to try to rescue casualties as you yourself could become one. call the emergency services and give as much information as possible about the labels and markings on the vehicle. If your vehicle is involved in a collision which causes damage or injury to any other person, vehicle or other property, you MUST; stop. give your own and the vehicle owner s name and address, and the registration number of the vehicle, to anyone having reasonable grounds for requiring them if you do not give your name and address at the time of the collision, report it to the police as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours. If another person is injured and you do not produce your insurance certificate at the time of the crash to a police officer or to anyone having reasonable grounds to request it, you MUST report it to the police as soon as possible and in any case within 24 hours produce your insurance certificate for the police within seven days.
General guidance Drivers should take regular breaks to avoid driver fatigue. If at any point the driver feels fatigued, they must stop somewhere safe and rest. (ROSPA have produced a guide on how to avoid falling asleep at the wheel called Safe Journey Planner - ; Go to; http://www.rospa.com/rospaweb/docs/advice-services/roadsafety/drivers/safer-journey-planner.pdf Drivers must take weather conditions into consideration when planning and undertaking journeys. Vehicles must be fully defrosted prior to a journey. Drivers must carry out pre-journey checks including oil and fuel levels, tyre pressures etc. Off-road driving must not be attempted unless the vehicle is suitable for the terrain and the activity is a necessary component of the trip. Passengers must be directed not to distract the driver whilst driving. Passengers liable to motion / travel sickness, should inform the driver prior to the start of the journey. They must seat themselves in such a position that will lessen the impact of the stimuli. Passengers must have clothing appropriate for the prevailing conditions Passengers must be provided with a full itinerary including meetings times, departure and arrival times and emergency contact telephone numbers. Ideally, both written and verbal instructions should be provided. Passengers should be asked to buddy up so that an immediate notification of someone missing can be made. Passengers who are not intending to return with the organised trip must inform the responsible person and driver. Responsible person ; best practice requires that every trip should have a nominated responsible person (or trip leader), responsible for checking that all the right people get on the coach for all journey s. It is compulsory that the responsible person carries an emergency phone at all times on the trip and it is kept fully charged. The responsible person must swap phone numbers with the driver of the trip vehicle(s). Where the driver and the responsible person are one and the same, another individual should be identified as an emergency contact. The trip phone should be programmed with emergency phone numbers e.g. School, Department, Professional Service, Security contacts.
Regular head counts should be taken to account for everyone at all times during the trip. The responsible person should have a nominated deputy in case of illness or accident Vehicles must be roadworthy, (regularly serviced and maintained), to reduce the risk of breakdown. Vehicles should be checked prior to the journey to ensure they have sufficient fuel, there is an inflated spare wheel, defrosting kit, some water, first aid kit etc. Vehicles must not be overloaded with passengers or loads. (Check the vehicle operating manual for the maximum laden weight). Loads must be secured so they cannot move or become unstable thereby causing injury or damage. Loads must be packed so as not to obscure the vision of the driver. Any hazardous substances must be stored safely in line with recommended storage instructions. Caution should be taken when refuelling. Spillages of fuel must be reported to the operator of the garage. Clothing with fuel spilt on it, must be changed as soon as possible. Protective gloves should be work whilst re-fuelling Seat belts; where fitted, must be worn during journeys. The exemptions are; a driver who is reversing, or supervising a learner driver who is reversing. in a vehicle being used for police, fire and rescue services. a passenger in a trade vehicle and the passenger is investigating a fault. driving a goods vehicle on deliveries that is travelling no more than 50 metres between stops. a licensed taxi driver who is plying for hire or carrying passengers, or, for a variety of medical reasons. The following information must be available on the vehicle; A copy of; Safe procedures for staff and students in respect of road traffic incidents and breakdowns - 10 Golden rules Emergency contacts; School / Department / Professional Service / Security service How to contact the Emergency Services Passenger personal emergency contacts