A fifth of drivers admit to not knowing what to do in the event of a collision

A fifth of drivers (20%) do not know what to do after a collision, according to latest research from insurer, Aviva.

Almost half of drivers (45%) are unsure what to do when dealing with a collision where damage to another vehicle or property is involved, despite this accounting for 85% of claims according to Aviva data^[6]. This rises to two thirds of drivers (66%) where someone gets hurt and to four fifths (80%) involving a wild or domestic animal^[7].

According to the research, this nervousness is felt amongst all age groups with 21% of Gen Z (16-27-year-olds) stating that they lacked confidence when driving. This is only marginally more than Generation Y (28-34-year-olds) and Baby Boomers (60-78-years-old) both at 20% and Gen X (44-59-year-olds) at 19%.

When looking at why this might be the case, the data points to some confusion over the rules, with just 5% of drivers correctly identifying all the steps outlined in the Highway Code following a collision.

In fact, more than a third of drivers (36%) do not know the Highway Code requires you to stop at the scene of a collision under section 283.

Matthew Washer, Head of Telematics at Aviva, says: “It’s worrying to see a lack of awareness when it comes to handling the aftermath of a collision, which could be putting people at risk as well as breaking the law. If you’re involved in a collision – whether that be a bump or a more serious collision - the most important thing is to check if anyone is hurt. If so, contact the emergency services straight away.

“From an insurance point of view - and only once everyone is safe – make sure you exchange details with the other party involved. Remember, all events - regardless of their severity - must be reported to your insurer.

“And, if you do need to make a claim, remain vigilant when it comes to contacting your insurer. Some claims companies use misleading search engine adverts, or 'spoof ads', to make customers think they are contacting their motor insurer. However, claiming via these companies could put customers at risk of being responsible for the cost of the claim, which can run well into the thousands of pounds. To avoid this, we recommend motorists store their insurer's claims contact details in their phone or glove compartment."

The research from Aviva coincides with the launch of AutoClaim, the newest feature on QuoteMeHappy Connect telematics policies, which allows the insurer to detect when drivers have had a collision. Following a collision, Connect customers receive an alert on their smartphone to check they are okay and are signposted towards making a claim, should they need to^[8].

Washer added: “Many of us will have unfortunately experienced a driving accident or incident in our lifetime, which is why we developed AutoClaim to proactively detect collisions in real time. Our in-app technology enables us to contact customers directly to check they’re okay and means we can be there every step of the way, from prevention to collisions and making a claim.”

What you should do after a collision:

1) Stop safely: If you can, pull over somewhere where you aren’t blocking traffic such as the hard shoulder. Turn off your engine and put your hazard lights on so the car is visible. Don’t forget - stopping at the scene is a requirement under section 283 of the Highway Code.

2) Call the emergency services: Check for injuries, and if anyone is hurt, call 999 straight away to seek medical advice and help. If there are any injuries, your car is blocking the road, or if the other driver is acting aggressively or suspiciously, contact the police straight away.

3) Exchange details: You will need to give other drivers, and witnesses, your details. Give your name, address, and contact details, as well as your driving licence number, registration and insurance details. It is a good idea to have these details to hand, or saved securely in your phone, to save yourself some stress in the moment.

4) Document the scene: Videos and photos of the scene, your vehicles, and any damage, will come in handy when it comes to making a claim. Make a note of road names, your direction and speed of travel, and detail any injuries.

5) Contact your insurer: Get in touch with your insurer as soon as possible. Remember to be wary of paid ad-spoofers as the top results on a search engine may not necessarily be your insurer’s official contact details and could be a scammer. If you have a QuoteMeHappy Connect policy, look out for a message from your insurer that will guide you to the next steps.

What you should do if you hit a wild or domestic animal:

If you hit an animal, pull over to a safe location and turn on your hazard lights, as well as switching off the engine just as you would with a collision involving a car or property. In some cases – such as hitting dogs, horses or sheep – you will need to report the collision to the police. This is a legal requirement under the Road Traffic Act (1988). If the animal appears injured, you will also need to contact the RSPCA or its counterparts in Scotland  - Scottish SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) - and ISPCA (Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). 

When it comes to wild animals – such as deer or foxes - although you don’t need to report this by law, you may want to contact an animal welfare charity.

Remember to also check your car for any signs of damage.

-ends-

References:

¹ _{The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of  2,000 nationally representative UK consumers (aged 17+) between 28.02.2025 - 03.03.2025. Of these, 1,369 were drivers. [↑]}

² _{The reverse of those who selected the relevant answer option when asked “Which types of car accident(s), if any, are you/would you be confident that you know what to do in the immediate aftermath of (as the driver)?” [↑]}

³ _{Respondents who selected all the correct actions according to the Highway code [↑]}

⁴ _{‘Yes, caused by myself’ and ‘Yes, caused by someone else’ responses combined [↑]}

⁵ _{QuoteMeHappy Connect provides customers with a weekly driver rating – red, amber, green or gold - and a breakdown of their driving behaviours, with green and gold-rated drivers earning reward points which can be exchanged for e-vouchers.  Drivers with an amber or red rating will be given personalised advice on how to improve their driving.  Customers can also view journey ratings, allowing them to get real time feedback on their driving for a particular trip. QuoteMeHappy Connect combines app-based technology with a small windscreen-mounted device to record driving behaviour. Customers pair their mobile phone with the device in their car and the app starts to monitor driving behaviour from the outset. [↑]}

⁶ _{Aviva claims data involving a third party from January 2024 – February 2025. [↑]}

⁷ _{The reverse of those who selected the relevant answer option when asked “What, if anything, should you do after a car accident, according to the highway code?” [↑]}

⁸ _{Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm [↑]}

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