Dealing with emergencies

Brake and tire failures, collisions, what to do at the scene, and when you must report to police.

• Report a collision to police when there are injuries or damage to vehicles or other property over $5,000.
• Leave through the door away from traffic only if you must, and do not raise the hood. Wait inside with the doors locked and call police or an auto club, or ask a passer-by to call.
• You do not have to report it to police, but you must still exchange information with others whose vehicles were damaged.
• A blowout causes strong vibration and pulling. Ease off the gas, hold the wheel firmly in the direction you want to go, and stop off the road.
• "Steer it, Clear it": moving drivable vehicles off the road keeps everyone safer, especially on busy or high-speed roads.
• Every driver involved in a collision must stay at the scene, or return to it immediately, and give all possible assistance.
• A vehicle whose brakes have failed is not safe to drive. Once you have stopped, stay stopped and call for help.
• Check the switch right away. If the lights stay out, turn on your hazard lights, stop safely off the road and call for help; driving at night without lights is dangerous and illegal.
• Start to pull off at the first sign of trouble: check mirrors, turn on hazard lights, ease off the gas and get to the nearest shoulder. Never stop in the driving lanes.
• Give police your name and address, the registered owner's name and address, the plate and permit numbers, and your liability insurance card.
• Pumping may restore hydraulic brake pressure for a while. If not, apply the parking brake gently but firmly while holding the release button.
• Moving an injured person can make injuries worse. Unless there is a danger of fire or explosion, leave them in place and stay with them.
• First try lifting the pedal with your foot. Never reach down with your hands while the vehicle is moving; you would take your eyes off the road.
• In a minor collision with no injuries, moving drivable vehicles off the road, especially on busy or high-speed roads, helps prevent a second collision.
• Turn on flashers and set up warning signals or flares far enough away to give approaching traffic time to slow down or stop.
• Damaged vehicles may leak fuel. Keep smoking, matches and flares away from them to avoid a fire.
• Normally you leave injured people where they are, but fire is the exception: get people out of the vehicle and make sure everyone is well out of the way.
• People in collisions often go into shock. Use common sense: cover the person with a jacket or blanket and stay with them until help arrives.
• Grip the wheel firmly and slow down gradually without heavy braking. When the vehicle is under control, steer back onto the pavement.
• Turn on your hazard lights, shift to neutral and stop as soon as you safely can, preferably off the road. Then turn off the ignition, do not drive away, and call for help.
• If pumping does not restore pressure, apply the parking brake gently but firmly while holding its release button, so you can ease off if the wheels lock.
• Note the name and licence number of the tow truck operator or company, and make sure you know exactly where your vehicle is being taken.

Read this part of the official handbook on Ontario.ca →