5.3. What must a passenger of a vehicle involved in a road traffic accident do?
UAЩо повинен зробити пасажир транспортного засобу, який причетний до дорожньо-транспортної пригоди?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning road safety and the correct behavior of participants after a traffic accident. It reminds us that a passenger is not an “outsider”: in a critical situation, the passenger may be the only person able to react quickly, help the injured, and ensure proper notification of the services, which directly affects the lives and health of people and the subsequent processing of the incident.
The question tests knowledge of Section 5 of the Traffic Rules, specifically the duties and rights of passengers. According to clause 5.4, in the event of an accident, a passenger of the involved vehicle is required to act in two ways: provide possible assistance to the victims and report the incident to the authority or authorized unit of the National Police, remaining at the scene until the police arrive. That is why the theoretical exam includes a combined option that covers both obligations.
An analysis of the answer options shows that “helping the victims” alone is correct, but incomplete, because the traffic rules additionally require notifying the police and staying at the scene. Likewise, “notifying the police and staying” meets the requirements of the rules, but does not fulfill the duty to provide possible assistance. In practice, this means: calling an ambulance if necessary, helping the injured within your abilities, recording the contacts of witnesses, and providing important explanations to the police, without leaving the scene of the accident until law enforcement arrives.
Clause 5.4
In the event of a road traffic accident, a passenger of the vehicle involved in the accident must provide possible assistance to the victims, report the incident to the authority or authorized unit of the National Police, and remain at the scene until the police arrive.
Application: this clause directly establishes the duties of a passenger of a vehicle involved in a traffic accident, in particular regarding providing possible assistance to victims and notifying the police (as well as remaining at the scene until the police arrive).
That is, the correct answer is "Answers 1 and 2," given that according to the Traffic Rules, a passenger involved in a traffic accident must provide possible assistance to the victims and report the incident to the authority or authorized unit of the National Police.
A passenger involved in a traffic accident is not a “mere bystander.” The Traffic Rules of Ukraine explicitly classify the passenger as a participant in road traffic and assign them certain responsibilities in the event of an accident, especially if the driver is injured or unable to act independently.
First and foremost, the passenger must provide all possible assistance to the victims. This refers to real actions within their capabilities: calling an ambulance, helping to move people to a safe place, stopping bleeding, or performing other simple first aid actions if they are able to do so and it does not create additional danger.
Next, the passenger must report the incident to the relevant authority or authorized unit of the National Police (and to medical personnel if necessary) and remain at the scene until the police arrive. This is important both for the proper documentation of the accident and for preserving the circumstances of the event, as well as because the passenger may provide important explanations as a witness.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Answers 1 and 2," since a passenger involved in a traffic accident is required to provide possible assistance to the victims, notify the police, and remain at the scene until the police arrive.