At the collision scene

Explanation

Failure to yield the right of way is the most common factor in Indiana collisions. Lack of attention and failure to follow road rules also often cause accidents.

If you are involved in an accident:

1. Stop immediately, at the scene or as close as possible, without blocking traffic more than necessary.
2. If it happened in a highway travel lane, move the vehicle off the highway to a location close to the accident.
3. Do not move the vehicle if the accident involves transportation of hazardous materials or results in injury, death or entrapment.

The do-not-move conditions override the usual instruction to clear a highway travel lane.

Example

Two drivable cars have a minor collision in a highway lane. No one is injured or trapped and no hazardous material is involved. Both drivers stop, then move the cars off the highway to a nearby safe location.

Common mistake

Always moving a vehicle out of a travel lane. If there is injury, death, entrapment or hazardous-material transportation, the manual says not to move it.

What the manual says

The driver of a motor vehicle involved in an accident must stop immediately or as close as possible to the scene of the accident without obstructing traffic more than necessary.

However, the driver should not move the motor vehicle if the accident involves the transportation of hazardous materials or results in injury, death, or entrapment.