You're driving at 100kph and see a crash or accident sign. What speed must you slow down to? You're driving at 100kph and see a crash or accident sign. What speed must you slow down to?

  • A. 20km/h

  • B. 50km/h

  • C. 70km/h

  • D. 100km/h

  •  
    The correct answer is A
     
    Correct. 20kph is safest at an accident site because there might be debris on the road and people working to clear it up; or there may be other obstructions
     
 
 
 

Speed limits at road accident sites

If you see an accident sign then emergency services will be attending as only a police officer can put this sign up. Other road users can use warning triangles to warn people that there is an accident ahead.

An accident sign looks like this:

accident sign

It might only have the bottom ACCIDENT plate and it could also be in blue and white rather than orange and black.

The limit is reduced for a number of reasons:

  • Protect emergency services workers who are attending the scene
  • Prevent or minimise damage to vehicles driving through the scene (i.e. sharp objects such as broken glass could be on the road)
  • Allow for any changes in the road surface caused by the accident (i.e. mud and vegetation dragged onto the road, vehicle fluids spilled onto the road, tarmac surface damaged or gouged)
  • Protect the parties involved in the accident who may be dazed and confused

In a minor accident or a breakdown a driver can put up a red warning triangle. A reflectorised red warning triangle looks like this:

Some cars come with these as standard (usually European ones).

We have an in-depth guide to dealing with accidents and accident scenes here.

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