It comes out of nowhere: the squeal of tires, the deafening bang and the final crunch. It is supposed to happen to someone else, and after freedom from the protesting seatbelt, the next step is unclear.
The purpose of driver’s education is to teach safety, preparedness, and prevent accidents. Unfortunately, it is impossible to control other drivers or to predict human error. All it takes is a millisecond for something to go wrong. The problem for many people is figuring out how to deal with the accident.
“‘Am I alive?’ would be my first question…,” says Jaisel Patel, junior. “I’d pinch myself and make sure it was actually happening. Then, I’d call my parents.”
According to Kevin Matarelli, Edwardsville High School driver’s education instructor, Patel has the right idea. “A teenager should call his guardian and then call the insurance company and explain his situation,” says Matarelli. “Call 911 if there is one thousand dollars worth of damage, someone is injured, or someone is killed.”
Sergeant Kohlberg, SRO officer, says that if the driver is unable to tell how much damage has been done, it’s best to call the police.
An emergency dispatcher will ask for as much information as possible, such as exactly where the accident occurred. Police will expect the drivers to provide a valid insurance card and an ID, in addition to information about the accident.
A common mistake is not filing an accident report. According to Kohlberg, this is one of the worst mistakes that people make. If the police do not show up at the scene, the incident still needs to be reported. “If it happens in a parking lot, sometimes there is just a scrape. People don’t want to get in trouble. But by talking to the police, they will have fulfilled their reporting requirements and won’t be in trouble for leaving,” he says. “The police can get a hold of the owner and file the correct paper work.” If the accident happens on school grounds, regardless of the severity, finding an on campus police officer is the best way to go. If it does not happen at EHS, the correct paper work to be filed with the local police can be located on the DMV’s website.
By law, if there is more than one party involved, both drivers must stop. Matarelli warns that the penalty for leaving the scene is a $2,500 fine and a jail sentence up to one year. If the driver is gone for more than 30 minutes, the fine increases to $25,000 and one to three years in jail. If one driver does leave, the other should make sure they have a license plate number plus a description of the person and vehicle to give to the police. The best idea is not to leave the scene until after all of the information has been gathered.
If the accident occurs on a busy road, it may not be safe to stay in a car. If the car can be driven safely, it should be moved to the shoulder of the road. If not, the people involved should find a safe place to collect themselves and figure out their next move.
Drivers should check to make sure that no one is injured, and take note of details including weather and time. It is advisable for drivers to keep a camera handy to document the crash. If there is another driver involved, the drivers should exchange names, phone numbers, license plate, and driver’s license numbers.
The proper steps to take in case of an accident are many times outlined on the back on insurance cards. Taking a look at the small print of the insurance policy is a good idea. This tells a driver how much they can claim and how much they are liable for, as well as their deductable.
If for some reason drivers must leave their car on the road for an extended period of time after a crash, they must report it to the county sheriff’s office, state police department and the Illinois Department of Transportation, otherwise, the car might be towed away.
Overall, the best advice Matarelli can give is to “Be a cautious, patient driver and follow the rules of the road.” Kohlberg suggests slowing down, paying attention, staying off the cell phone, and abiding by traffic laws. In that case, there is no need for accidents.