39.4. By whom is the joint notification of a road traffic accident (European Accident Statement) completed?
UAКим складається спільне повідомлення про дорожньо-транспортну пригоду (Європротокол)?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns the safe and legal documentation of the consequences of a road traffic accident without police involvement. The topic is important for drivers in practice, as correctly filling out documents after a minor accident helps to quickly clear the roadway, avoid conflicts, and properly provide information to the insurance company. Such knowledge is tested in the theoretical exam because it is directly related to the responsibilities of accident participants.
The question checks the section of the traffic rules regarding the driver's actions in the event of an accident, in particular point 2.11 regarding the joint report on an accident (the European Accident Statement). According to the traffic rules, the European Accident Statement is filled out jointly by the drivers of the two vehicles involved, if there are no injured persons, both have valid compulsory insurance, they agree on the circumstances, and there are no signs of intoxication. This is also logical from the definition of the term "driver" in point 1.10: only the person who was driving the vehicle can correctly describe the maneuvers, direction of movement, damages, and other data related to driving.
The analysis of the answer options comes down to who is the "drafter" of the document. The option about police officers is not suitable, because the European Accident Statement is specifically intended to be completed without calling the police if the conditions of point 2.11 are met. The wording about the at-fault driver and victims is also incorrect: passengers or other victims may be participants in the event, but they are not the subjects who fill out this document, since they were not driving the vehicles. Therefore, the option "all answers are correct" cannot be correct either, as the traffic rules clearly state that the joint report is drawn up specifically by the drivers of the two cars.
Clause 2.11
In the event of a road traffic accident involving only two vehicles, with no injured (deceased) persons, provided that the drivers of these vehicles have valid compulsory civil liability insurance contracts, have reached an agreement regarding the circumstances of the accident, and show no signs of alcohol, drug, or other intoxication or being under the influence of medications that impair attention and reaction speed, the drivers have the right, without notifying the relevant unit of the National Police, to jointly complete a road traffic accident notification (European Accident Statement) according to the established form.
Application explanation: this clause directly specifies that the joint notification of a road traffic accident (European Accident Statement) is completed by the drivers of the vehicles involved in the accident themselves, without involving passengers or other persons as “completers” of the document.
Clause 1.10 (term “Driver”)
Driver — a person who operates a vehicle and holds a driver's license (temporary permit to drive a vehicle) of the appropriate category.
Application explanation: it is specifically the “driver” who is the subject to whom the Traffic Rules grant the right (and impose the obligation) to process the consequences of a road traffic accident, in particular to complete the European Accident Statement.
Clause 1.10 (term “Road Traffic Accident”)
Road traffic accident — 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.
Application explanation: the European Accident Statement is completed specifically for an event that, by definition, is a road traffic accident.
Therefore, the correct answer is: "By the drivers of the vehicles involved in the accident," given that, according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the joint notification of a road traffic accident (European Accident Statement) in the prescribed cases is “jointly completed” specifically by the drivers of these vehicles.
The European Accident Statement in the Traffic Rules is defined as a joint notification about a road traffic accident. Its essence is that the circumstances of the accident are recorded without police involvement by filling out a prescribed notification form directly at the scene.
Since this document reflects the actions of the accident participants during driving, the damage to vehicles, and the initial circumstances of the collision, it must be filled out by those who were driving the vehicles. Only the drivers can accurately indicate the details of their cars, direction of movement, maneuvers, road conditions, and other information related to driving.
Passengers or other persons may be victims, but they are not the drivers of the vehicles and are not responsible for their movement. Therefore, they are not the parties who fill out the joint notification about the accident and are not involved in its completion as authors.
For example, if a minor collision between two cars occurs at an intersection without calling the police, the driver of the first car and the driver of the second car together fill out the notification: they indicate the details, the diagram, the circumstances, and their signatures. It is their signatures that confirm agreement with the recorded information.
Thus, the correct answer is "By the drivers of the vehicles involved in the accident," since the European Accident Statement is a joint notification about an accident and is completed by those who were driving the vehicles and can record the circumstances of the event without calling the police.