Road accidents: would you HONESTLY stop?

[carriageline]

Tonight, I had a situation I have never had to deal with before.

A little background, was driving home with a mate in the car. Dark, up hill country lane that is up hill. Come around the first bend, and tail lights reflecting off a bush catch my end and I immediately slow down. Thankfully as their was a people carrier come off the road into a tree, with the the read half still in the road.

Soon as I had got around it I had realised the car was alone, still running and no one else had stopped so continued to the next junction, and span around. By this point, 4-5 cars had passed me towards it, and there was a few behind me. So, I was expecting to find at least one car pulled over to assist. Unfortunately, no one had bothered to stop.

So we pulled over just before the bend with hazards on to slow people down. I dealt with the driver, who was holding his chest in agony and had trouble breathing so I walked him away and sat him down away from both cars. The car was a mess, all the airbags deployed with coolant leaking. my mate directed traffic around. The driver was 'fortunately' alone, but wasn't saying much so I contacted the police and ambulance, who both turned up rather quickly.

Now, me and my friend are both quite young. Not one person stopped to lend a hand, ask if we were okay or anything. We had a few shaking of the heads, the obvious rubber neckers and the downright oblivious. If we hadn't stopped, I don't quite know what would have happened.

So my question tonight is, would you honestly stop in that situation?

 

[90019]

So my question tonight is, would you honestly stop in that situation?

Yes, I would, and have many times in the past.

If there's been an accident, I'll stop and do what I can to help.


Same goes for things like punctures, or breakdowns - I've helped push plenty of cars in my time.
I find it amazing the number of people who will drive straight past, or even get annoyed because whatever it is that's happened has dared to get in their way and disrupt their journey.


In the past year, I've helped get a car out of a snowy ditch, towed my best friend's car back to his house after it broke down, pushed four or five broken down cars, stopped to see if I can help with a handful of others, helped change a couple of wheels and jump started one car. Thankfully, I haven't really seen any crashes when not at work, and those I have seen at work have generally been minor bumps.
And looking from the other side, I was very grateful at the weekend when a couple of people stopped to help push my Mazda along the road after the second attempted theft in two months left it undrivable.

 

[DownSouth]

Yes, as with 90019 I don't have to say what I would do because I actually do it.

As a cyclist, I feel it is quite important to do so both for offering assistance and for shattering illusions. There is already so much bike hate out there without "and they ride past accidents" being added to the list of spurious complaints which are usually just a smokescreen for envy directed at those who've chosen a superior transport method for use in a congested city.

As I have front and rear cameras recording at all times when either riding or driving, I've also supplied video evidence to the police and to innocent victims numerous times.

 

[muz379]

I would indeed stop and have in the past stopped .
Last winter on a quite chilly Sunday morning I was driving to work in the early hours of the morning and saw someone get caught out by a bit of black ice and boom right into the center of a roundabout damaging his motor. Luckily a quick chat and I discovered nothing but his pride was hurt and he had a phone to ring for assistance . But at that time in the morning on a Sunday if I hadn't stopped and he had been hurt god knows when the next car would have come across him .

Ive kept proficient in first aid skills over the years which has been a great help in many situations so if someone was hurt id like to at least think id have a brief idea of what to do with them if they had hurt themselves.

I too have stopped to help someone with a puncture and helped jump start a car in the supermarket car park in my time .Its amazing the number of people who drive who dont know how to do basic things like jump a car or change a Tyre .Its also amazing the number of people who dont carry even a small hi-viz vest and a torch in their car . What happens if you need to get out on a really dark road at night ?

The only time I wont pull over to help/offer assistance to a broken down car is on the motorway where it is illegal to stop and assist ,aside from that as long as im not running late for work or something myself then Ill offer assistance where I can (if someone has crashed id pull over and check whatever the situation as id expect my employer to be understanding , I dont expect them to be as understanding if im just helping someone with a flat or something ) .

 

[AM9]

I don't drive enough these days to have been first at the scene of incidents but I probably would stop to see if I could help. Whilst I agree with the posts so far on this thread, the problem with it is that it's now unlikely that someone will say "no I would drive straight past" or "I don't have enough time to stop on my journeys". That is so particularly as someone has already categorised the non-stoppers as those who are rubberneckers, or who "get annoyed because whatever it is that's happened has dared to get in their way and disrupt their journey".
So this thread is only likely to include comments giving sympathy to the stricken motorist(s) and casting scorn on those who are just passers-by.

 

[carriageline]

That is true AM9. Half the reason for the post was to vent some steam, and it was a situation I hadn't had to deal with before.

But as you say, I believe most people would have the intention of stopping, but some would have something more important to be doing, or feel they can't do anything to help

 

[Ash Bridge]

Tonight, I had a situation I have never had to deal with before.

A little background, was driving home with a mate in the car. Dark, up hill country lane that is up hill. Come around the first bend, and tail lights reflecting off a bush catch my end and I immediately slow down. Thankfully as their was a people carrier come off the road into a tree, with the the read half still in the road.

Soon as I had got around it I had realised the car was alone, still running and no one else had stopped so continued to the next junction, and span around. By this point, 4-5 cars had passed me towards it, and there was a few behind me. So, I was expecting to find at least one car pulled over to assist. Unfortunately, no one had bothered to stop.

So we pulled over just before the bend with hazards on to slow people down. I dealt with the driver, who was holding his chest in agony and had trouble breathing so I walked him away and sat him down away from both cars. The car was a mess, all the airbags deployed with coolant leaking. my mate directed traffic around. The driver was 'fortunately' alone, but wasn't saying much so I contacted the police and ambulance, who both turned up rather quickly.

Now, me and my friend are both quite young. Not one person stopped to lend a hand, ask if we were okay or anything. We had a few shaking of the heads, the obvious rubber neckers and the downright oblivious. If we hadn't stopped, I don't quite know what would of happened.


So my question tonight is, would you honestly stop in that situation?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, I would, and have many times in the past.

If there's been an accident, I'll stop and do what I can to help.

I would indeed stop and have in the past stopped .
Last winter on a quite chilly Sunday morning I was driving to work in the early hours of the morning and saw someone get caught out by a bit of black ice and boom right into the center of a roundabout damaging his motor. Luckily a quick chat and I discovered nothing but his pride was hurt and he had a phone to ring for assistance .

All I would like to add, is that it is reassuring to know that there are still decent souls like your goodselves out there willing to go out of your way to help someone in their moment of need. Good on you all!

Yes, as with 90019 I don't have to say what I would do because I actually do it.

As a cyclist, I feel it is quite important to do so both for offering assistance and for shattering illusions. There is already so much bike hate out there without "and they ride past accidents" being added to the list of spurious complaints which are usually just a smokescreen for envy directed at those who've chosen a superior transport method for use in a congested city.

As I have front and rear cameras recording at all times when either riding or driving, I've also supplied video evidence to the police and to innocent victims numerous times.

Interesting comments, I was thinking Australian motorists would have had a better attitude to cyclists than what generally exists over here in overcrowded Europe (with possibly Holland an exception) Once again, nice one chaps

 

[LowLevel]

I've certainly stopped in the past. I was driving along a motorway once and the car in front of me aquaplaned and ended up on it's roof in the middle of a slip road on a quiet Sunday afternoon. I stopped, used my car as a shield for it and called 999. Luckily for the driver (who was unconscious and a right mess) within 2 or 3 minutes an off duty police sergeant, a nurse and a highways agency pickup had all pulled over to help and the police and fire service got an air ambulance in.

The police thanked me for stopping and remaining at the scene as a witness and let me on my way as a gesture when they'd closed the road for everyone else for the helicopter.

As a railwayman nothing on the iron road scares me like standing on an open motorway - even applying my common sense as a railwayman left me feeling very vulnerable to everything shooting past

 

[Tetchytyke]

Yes, I've done it before and I'll do it again.

I think the trouble is most people assume someone else will stop and then don't bother.

 

[ainsworth74]

I think the trouble is most people assume someone else will stop and then don't bother.

At this point isn't there quite a significant body of research that demonstrates that this is absolutely the reason why so few people stop? The same effect is obvious in many other situations, helping someone whose collapsed on the street or alerting the emergency services to a fire for example.

 

[455driver]

As the others have stated, I would have stopped and help and have done a few times in the past, not needed to for a couple of years now though.

Oh and we'll done you for doing the right thing.

 

[Flamingo]

Well done the OP! It was the right thing to do.

 

[Oswyntail]

I would always stop, and, like others, have done so.
I would remind people, though, to be careful in what they do in such circumstances. Make sure the emergency services are called, and that the site of the accident is obvious, then, unless there is imminent danger, simply make sure any injured people stay where they are. And, if there is imminent danger, there is little you can reasonably do anyway (which can get horrendous).

 

[Strat-tastic]

I was driving along a 70 mph dual carriageway once, when I just caught a glimpse in a small adjoining driveway of a person lying on the floor with a bike next to him. I thought about it to make sure of what I thought I saw, as it was passed in a flash, turned round and made my way back.

There was indeed a person lying on the grass, having a rest from his cycle ride on the nice summer's day! Thankfully

 

[GB]

Tonight, I had a situation I have never had to deal with before.

A little background, was driving home with a mate in the car. Dark, up hill country lane that is up hill. Come around the first bend, and tail lights reflecting off a bush catch my end and I immediately slow down. Thankfully as their was a people carrier come off the road into a tree, with the the read half still in the road.

Soon as I had got around it I had realised the car was alone, still running and no one else had stopped so continued to the next junction, and span around. By this point, 4-5 cars had passed me towards it, and there was a few behind me. So, I was expecting to find at least one car pulled over to assist. Unfortunately, no one had bothered to stop.

Kudos for returning and dealing with it, but perhaps those 4 or 5 cars you passed hadn't fully realised the situation? You your self initially drove past.

 

[swj99]

At this point isn't there quite a significant body of research that demonstrates that this is absolutely the reason why so few people stop? .........

Yes, the research goes back many years. It's called the bystander effect.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

 

[ralphchadkirk]

It's good that so many people are willing to stop, but you must consider your own safety first. Sometimes it simply isn't safe to stop. Roads, especially fast roads, are incredibly dangerous places and you are so vulnerable. I hate working on fast roads - even with lane closures and lots of flashing lights. I would suggest that simply for your own safety you do not stop on motorways or dual carriageways or any road where you do not have excellent visibility unless the traffic is at a crawl. Don't become another casualty.

 

[mac]

I have and would do again, but isn't good when you see those blue lights coming to help.

 

[Antman]

Yes, as with 90019 I don't have to say what I would do because I actually do it.

As a cyclist, I feel it is quite important to do so both for offering assistance and for shattering illusions. There is already so much bike hate out there without "and they ride past accidents" being added to the list of spurious complaints which are usually just a smokescreen for envy directed at those who've chosen a superior transport method for use in a congested city.

As I have front and rear cameras recording at all times when either riding or driving, I've also supplied video evidence to the police and to innocent victims numerous times.

The hatred towards cyclists is as ridiculous as it is irrational.

I would always stop for motorists cyclists or pedestrians and have indeed done so on several occasions.

 

[ManUtd]

I can't believe it's a question.....I have done and would always stop if it looked as if someone needed help.

 

[Welly]

A few years ago I misjudged an extraordinarily sharp bend on a single carriageway A-road on a dark November night. My car came off the road and got damaged.

Luckily I wasn't hurt but I'll always be grateful to the van driver who saw it happen and stopped. He let me sit in his van and kept me company until I was collected by my father about 30 minutes later.

I'll do the same for anyone who crashes in the middle of nowhere.

 

[SS4]

I am not sure because I've never been placed in that situation, I'd like to think I would help but as a non-driver I don't know how much help I'd be or if I'd be in a position to spot one although maybe not the driver who refused to stop at a zebra crossing for me

 

[90019]

That is so particularly as someone has already categorised the non-stoppers as those who are rubberneckers, or who "get annoyed because whatever it is that's happened has dared to get in their way and disrupt their journey".

I wasn't trying to imply that everyone who doesn't stop is like that, but that there are a few out there who do get annoyed at you for getting in their way or slowing them down by having the sheer cheek to break down and need pushed to get out of the way.

 

[DownSouth]

At this point isn't there quite a significant body of research that demonstrates that this is absolutely the reason why so few people stop? The same effect is obvious in many other situations, helping someone whose collapsed on the street or alerting the emergency services to a fire for example.

Yes, the research goes back many years. It's called the bystander effect.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

I would suggest that there's also an element of concern for personal safety now which was not necessarily there in the past.

Actual crime rates are down in most Western countries compared to previous decades, but access to reporting about crime is very much increased. Instead of having the news available in the papers and on radio/TV as it was 30 years ago, today news comes at you from those same directions (but improved by technology, e.g. a TV camera crew can travel in a standard car or just use a video captured by a witness on their smartphone) as well as websites, internet forums like this one, social media and so on. When people are bombarded with stories about crime all the time, that's inevitably going to result in too many people thinking twice about assisting someone who might (or might not, what if they're really just a serial killer setting the bait for a new victim?) need help on the side of the road.

 

[Crossover]

Have seen the back end of an incident once near work (as I came round the corner, there was a car on its roof but still rocking as it had just gone over. No other vehicles involved and on a slight curve on a 30 road - rather weird. In that case I decided to go onward - I needed to get into work and there was around half a dozen plus people round the car almost immediately. I did debate whether I'd done the right thing but in the circumstances I may have been more of a hindrance.

 

[LowLevel]

It seems to go in fits and spurts - having never dialled 999 in my life until about 3 years ago I've since done it at least 10 times. Everything from car crashes to unconscious people in the street to fighting scrotes at work.

 

[Antman]

Have seen the back end of an incident once near work (as I came round the corner, there was a car on its roof but still rocking as it had just gone over. No other vehicles involved and on a slight curve on a 30 road - rather weird. In that case I decided to go onward - I needed to get into work and there was around half a dozen plus people round the car almost immediately. I did debate whether I'd done the right thing but in the circumstances I may have been more of a hindrance.

In that situation there is not much point in stopping, too many cooks and all that!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A few years ago I misjudged an extraordinarily sharp bend on a single carriageway A-road on a dark November night. My car came off the road and got damaged.

Luckily I wasn't hurt but I'll always be grateful to the van driver who saw it happen and stopped. He let me sit in his van and kept me company until I was collected by my father about 30 minutes later.

I'll do the same for anyone who crashes in the middle of nowhere.

Likewise I'll always be grateful to the bloke who stopped to help my daughter when she hit black ice and ended up in a ditch, she only sustained minor injuries but was in a state of shock. He not only let her sit in his car until the ambulance arrived he phoned his wife, he lived nearby, who came along with a flask of tea. It's heart warming to know there are such nice people around.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

It seems to go in fits and spurts - having never dialled 999 in my life until about 3 years ago I've since done it at least 10 times. Everything from car crashes to unconscious people in the street to fighting scrotes at work.

I've never called 999, wouldn't know what to do.

 

[gswindale]

I personally would be wary of stopping to help as a lone individual.

On my way home from our Christmas party last week, I saw a car that had just gone straight into the centre of a roundabout. Looked to be alcohol related. Driver was getting out as I got there and as I was passing it became obvious that another car heading the opposite way was stopping. My boss dove past about 15 minutes later and police/ambulance were on the scene.

Should I have stopped? Not sure but given it appeared to be a drunk driver, I felt safer by not stopping. If there hadn't of been anyone else around I may have pulled over a bit further along the road and contacted emergency services.

 

[Antman]

I personally would be wary of stopping to help as a lone individual.

On my way home from our Christmas party last week, I saw a car that had just gone straight into the centre of a roundabout. Looked to be alcohol related. Driver was getting out as I got there and as I was passing it became obvious that another car heading the opposite way was stopping. My boss dove past about 15 minutes later and police/ambulance were on the scene.

Should I have stopped? Not sure but given it appeared to be a drunk driver, I felt safer by not stopping. If there hadn't of been anyone else around I may have pulled over a bit further along the road and contacted emergency services.

I would have done and I'd have called the police if he smelt of alcohol but it's up to each individual