Accidents & emergencies

Emergency services including the police, fire and ambulance services can be contacted from any telephone or UK mobile phone by dialling 999.

If you're involved in a car accident you must:

• Stop immediately.
• Use your hazard warning lights to warn other traffic.
• Ask drivers to switch off their engines and stop smoking.
• Inform the emergency services immediately with full details of the accident location and any casualties. You can call 999 free from any phone to contact either the police, ambulance or fire service.
• Move uninjured people away from the vehicles to safety; on a motorway this should, if possible, be well away from the traffic, the hard shoulder and the central reservation.
• Do not move injured people from their vehicles unless they are in immediate danger from fire or explosion.
• Do not remove a motorcyclist's helmet unless it is essential to do so.
• Stay at the scene until emergency services arrive.
• Give details of your insurance to other drivers involved.