Introduction

Safety is a major concern for all road users ranging from vehicular modes to the pedestrians, and as a driver, you should drive safely and responsibly to avoid an accident. However, emergencies are unpredictable, and, in such situations responses could be rehearsed and perfected to best manage an unexpected situation and, maybe, save lives. This Chapter will guide you through the following aspects and help you to practice your response in case of an emergency.

• Involvement in an accident: Involvement means any individual who is a witness to an accident or emergency. This section will provide the guidelines for you to follow under such a situation.
• First visitor: First visitor means the first person to arrive at the scene of an accident, injury or emergency and to assess the situation and arrange for assistance. The first person on the scene may or may not be a first aid officer or person trained in first aid.
• Vehicle breakdown: Major sources of unexpected incidents are vehicle breakdown which refers to the failure of a vehicle (mechanically or from its surroundings) to operate properly leading to little or no mobility. Such a breakdown affects the driver and other road users. Examples are brake failure, stuck accelerator, collision with other vehicles, etc.
• Response to emergency vehicle: Response is in terms of the reaction of other road users to an emergency vehicle (for example an ambulance). This section will define the things you need to do when an emergency vehicle is seen trying to attend to an emergency.
• Driving during emergencies: When confronted with an unexpected situation, you will have to use the skills of steering, acceleration and braking, individually and in combination to face the emergency situation successfully.