37.51. What is the first thing a driver involved in a road traffic accident must do if there are injured persons as a result of the incident?
UAЩо з наведеного насамперед зобов’язаний зробити причетний до дорожньо-транспортної пригоди водій, якщо в результаті події є потерпілі особи?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety and the correct actions a driver should take during a road traffic accident when there are injured people. In such situations, the most important thing is not to "document the accident," but to preserve the life and health of the victims in the first minutes after the incident, which is why the traffic rules establish a clear priority of actions.
The question tests knowledge of the driver's duties in the event of a traffic accident (the section on drivers' rights and responsibilities) and specifically the requirement of clause 2.10, subparagraph "g." This clause defines the primary duty: to provide first aid within one's abilities, call an emergency medical team, and if this is not possible, involve bystanders and organize the transportation of the injured to a healthcare facility. In the theoretical exam, it is important to remember the logic: medical assistance takes priority over other organizational actions.
The analysis of the answer options comes down to the order of fulfilling duties. Actions such as notifying the National Police, recording witness information, or waiting for a patrol are necessary, but they cannot be "first" if there are injured people. Likewise, preserving the scene, marking the accident site, and organizing a detour are important for safety and investigation, but are performed after assistance has been provided. This question teaches you to correctly prioritize according to the traffic rules: first, save people, then document the circumstances of the accident.
Clause 2.10 (subclause "g")
In the event of involvement in a road traffic accident, the driver is obliged to: take all possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the injured, call an emergency (ambulance) medical team, and if it is not possible to take these measures, seek help from those present and send the injured to a healthcare facility.
Brief explanation of application: this particular subclause defines the driver’s priority (primary) action in an accident with casualties — organizing pre-medical assistance and calling emergency medical services.
Clause 1.10 (term "Road Traffic Accident")
A road traffic accident is an event that occurred during the movement of a vehicle, as a result of which people were killed or injured, or material damage was caused.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Take all possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the injured, call an emergency (ambulance) medical team, and if it is not possible to take these measures, seek help from those present and send the injured to a healthcare facility," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the primary duty of a driver involved in an accident with casualties is directly established by clause 2.10 (d).
When a driver becomes involved in a road traffic accident and there are injured people, the first priority is determined not by the convenience of documenting the accident, but by preserving the life and health of the victims. That is why the Traffic Rules (paragraph 2.10, subparagraph "g") specifically emphasize that if there are injured persons, the driver must first act to ensure that assistance is provided to the person as quickly as possible.
In practice, this means: immediately assess the condition of the victims and, within your capabilities, provide first aid (for example, stop severe bleeding, ensure a safe position, monitor breathing), as well as call an emergency (ambulance) medical team. The logic is simple: actions such as placing an emergency stop sign or notifying the police are important, but they cannot take precedence over critical actions on which a person's life depends in the first minutes after injury.
If the driver objectively cannot perform these actions themselves (for example, due to their own condition, lack of communication, or other circumstances), the Traffic Rules require not to remain passive: you must seek help from those present and organize the transportation of the injured to a healthcare facility. That is, the driver's duty is not only to "make a call," but to actually ensure that medical assistance is provided by the fastest available means.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Take possible measures to provide first aid to the victims, call an emergency (ambulance) medical team, and if it is not possible to take these measures, seek help from those present and send the victims to a healthcare facility," since the Traffic Rules (p. 2.10 "g") establish the priority of urgent assistance to victims of a traffic accident over other actions by the driver.