Topic 5
Collisions and breakdowns
Please make sure to call Engineius immediately if you are ever in doubt during a collision or breakdown on 0121 481 2111. For out of hours, select “Option 0”.
There are many things that can go wrong when conducting a movement with Engineius. Please make sure to read every category on this page before attempting your test.
1. Collisions and breakdowns
If the vehicle you are driving breaks down, please call the Engineius office on 0121 481 2111. We have our own agreement with a recovery network to support you. In the meantime, you should:
Make sure you’re in a safe place to stop, such as an emergency refuge area (you must use the SOS phone to contact the Regional Control Centre when you stop and before you leave)
Get the vehicle off the carriageway
Turn the hazard warning lights on
Call the Engineius Ops team to inform us of the breakdown or collision
Stay well away from moving traffic. If safe, get out of the vehicle and wait behind the barrier. If you can’t get out, stay inside the vehicle with your seat belt on.
2. When should I call the police?
The Road Traffic Act says that you must report the collision to a police constable or police station within 24 hours. If you don't, you may be given a fine, receive points on your licence, or a disqualification from driving. You should also report when:
The other driver or drivers leave the scene without giving details.
You think the other driver has no insurance or is under the influence of drink or drugs.
You suspect that the other driver caused the collision deliberately.
3. Exchange motoring details
You should exchange motoring details when involved in an collision. The first thing to do is to find out if the other driver is the registered owner of the vehicle. If they are not, find out who the owner is and get that information too. For instance, it might be a company car.
Once established, you should:
Share your name and address with everyone involved if the collision caused damage or injury - the law says you must do this.
Swap insurance information and details with the other driver(s).
Take down details of any other passengers and witnesses to the collision
If a foreign lorry is involved, get the numbers on both the lorry and its trailer, sometimes they are different. It’s also a good idea to get the name of the company if its painted on the lorry.
4. What should I record at the collision scene?
At the collision scene, you should use your phone to take pictures of the scene, the positions of the cars involved, and damage to the cars. You should note down:
The make, model, colour, and number plate of the vehicles involved in the collision or take pictures of them.
The time and date of the crash.
The driving conditions, including the weather, lighting, and road quality, such as road markings, whether it’s wet or muddy, repair of the road surface.
What sort of damage was caused to the vehicles and where. E.g. nearside front wing and door. Nearside is the left side of your car, offside is the driver’s side.
Any injuries to drivers, passengers, or pedestrians.
The names and contact details of any witnesses.
Involved in an collision?
If you are ever involved in an collision while driving for Engineius you must call Engineius immediately on 0121 481 2111. Please see below for further instructions.
Always “STOP” as it is an offence not to after an incident.
If in an collision, we would ask a driver to stay with the vehicle until either collected or moved to a safe location while ensuring the keys are left in a safe place/ with a responsible person
If driving in a convoy and one of the other vehicles is involved in an RTA, please ensure you pull over and call Engineius immediately on 0121 481 2111.
For further details on what to do during a collision or breakdown, please contact us.