The Road Traffic Collisions department is a section of the Criminal Justice Unit of Norfolk Constabulary.

We are based at King’s Lynn Police Station and deal with the recording and investigation of collisions that occur within the county.

Not all collisions are recorded, as the officer attending may not make a written record if he feels that police should take no further action.

 

Definition of a road traffic collision

The law defines a reportable road traffic collision as an accident involving a mechanically-propelled vehicle on a road or other public area which causes:

• Injury or damage to anybody - other than the driver of that vehicle,
• Injury or damage to an animal- other than one being carried on that vehicle (an animal is classes as a horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog).
• Damage to a vehicle - other than the vehicle which caused the accident.
• Damage to property constructed on, affixed to, growing in, or otherwise forming part of the land where the road is.

If they take place in a public place the police can investigate off-road collisions, for example, collisions in car parks, which, because they are open to the public, are deemed public places.

 

What to do if you are involved in a collision

If you are the driver you MUST:

• Stop and remain at the scene for a reasonable time,
• Give your name and address, vehicle registration number, and details of the owner (if different) to anyone with reasonable grounds for asking for these details.
• If you do not exchange those at the scene you must report the accident at a police station as soon as possible and within 24 hours in any case.

When another person involved is injured you must:

• Produce your certificate of insurance to anyone at the scene having reasonable grounds to see it.
• If you don’t have your certificate with you then you may take it to the police station when you report the incident (within 24 hours). This must be produced within seven days.

This applies, not only if your vehicle was directly involved in the collision, but also if your vehicle’s presence was a factor.

If you have any doubts we advise you to report the collision regardless of who was at fault.

Failure to do so can mean you are committing two offences;-  failure to stop and failure to report.

The penalties for each offence include a fine and penalty points on your licence. The court can also disqualify you from driving for either or both offences.

 

The role of police at the scene

Our role is:

• To ensure the scene is safe and to prevent further collisions.
• To investigate and to record in appropriate cases the details of the collision.
• To remove as soon as possible damaged vehicles from the scene. If necessary the police may call a garage to recover your vehicle from the roadside. If this is done, any charges are payable by the owner of the vehicle. You can elect your own garage if safe to do so, or the police will call one.

 

Obtaining details of other parties

If these have been recorded then they can be obtained by persons involved in the collision over the phone. Witness details will not be disclosed.

We are unable to give opinions as to which party is at fault as we are obliged to remain impartial and restrict information given to fact only.

Generally allow seven days for the information to reach the unit and a collision reference number to be generated. This number can then be passed to your insurance company.

If the other party was not present at the scene then these details may not be known for some time.

When a case has been finalised a copy of the report can be obtained for a fee. This is generally arranged by solicitors or the insurance company.

 

Making witness statements

You may be asked to provide a written statement but usually if a case is being considered for prosecution, this is by way of a pro-forma statement that is sent to you to fill in yourself.

Provision of a written statement or a pro-forma one does not automatically mean you will have to appear as a witness in court proceedings. If a prosecution is considered necessary then you will be notified of this.

 

Prosecution policy

Further investigation of those collisions involving fatal or serious injury, aggressive or impatient driving, misuse of speed or any other relevant circumstances will be considered for prosecution and details forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service who then decide if further action should be taken.

A written Notice of Intended Prosecution is sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle ensuring that the motorist is made aware as soon as possible that an offence may have been committed. It is not required for all traffic offences and may not lead to a prosecution being instigated.

When there is sufficient evidence to prosecute a driver for careless driving, Norfolk Constabulary may offer a course of one and a half days refresher training instead of prosecution. This course is known as the National Driver Improvement Scheme and is designed to address a probable cause of the collision by driver improvement rather than by prosecution and should go towards reducing the likelihood of a careless driver being involved in a similar collision. This does not affect an insurance claim.

 

Notifying Insurance Company

Generally-speaking, most insurance companies state that the insured driver must notify them if involved in a collision irrespective of whether a claim is to be made or not, or whose fault it was. They will normally send you a form for completion.

 

What if the other driver is not insured?

If, due to a road collision you suffer injury, loss or damage to your property, then this is normally covered by insurance arrangements.

Where the offender is not traced or not insured then compensation may be available from the Motor Insurers Bureau.

They can consider claims for:-

• Personal injury, loss or damage caused by an identified driver who is uninsured.
• Personal injury caused by an untraced driver. (This doesn’t include damage or loss to property)

YOU CANNOT REPORT THE COLLISION TO THE POLICE USING THIS WEBSITE

If you do so you will not comply with the legal requirements under the Road Traffic Act and you may be liable for prosecution for failing to report an accident.

 

Driver Improvement Scheme

What is it?

• It is a one and a half day driver training course involving driving assessments both practical and theoretical by specially trained driving instructors.

Where is it held?

• Most local authorities belong to the scheme and you should be able to take the course in the county where you live. If one is not available it can be at your nearest or chosen alternative.

What vehicle do I take the course in?

• In general the course operators will provide motor cars, however for other classes of vehicle such as motorcycles, alternative arrangements will be made between yourself and the course provider.