What To Do If You Are In An Accident
South Africa has a higher-than-average road accident death toll, and with the majority of accidents caused by human error, we can certainly do our part in reducing the carnage on our roads. While poor road conditions, weather and vehicle faults are also to blame for accidents, the primary causes are speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
According to Arrive Alive, the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC) State of Road Safety in South Africa, of the number of fatal crashes experienced over the 2023/24 festive period, human factors contributed 80,8% of the crashes, environmental factors contributed 10,4%, vehicle factors contributed 8.8%. 40.9% of those who died were pedestrians, passengers accounted for 33.6%, drivers 24.6% and cyclists 0.8%
According to the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA), South Africa’s road deaths should be considered a national crisis, with 126 546 people having died on our roads since 2013.
The leading causes of road accidents are distractions, drunk driving, speeding, reckless driving, j-walking, weather, poor road conditions and vehicle faults.
What to do if you are in an accident
A car accident happens quickly and is a stressful experience. It could leave you shaken, injured, and unable to think straight. For these reasons, it is a good idea to know what to do if you are involved in a car accident right now.
Accidents often have legal repercussions, and the law clearly defines what you need to do if you are in an accident. According to Arrive Alive, you must do the following:
1. Stop your vehicle:
Immediately stop your vehicle and check the nature and extent of any injuries sustained. If someone is injured, help them as best you can, but if you are unsure, rather wait for help to arrive so that you don’t aggravate an injury. Get qualified help to assist on scene as soon as possible. Do not leave the scene until the police say you can.
If you fail to stop at an accident scene that you are legally required to, you could be prosecuted, and, if convicted, be fined up to R36 000 or face 9 years in prison, or both.
Once you’ve stopped, put your hazards on to alert other drivers. Place your emergency triangle 45m from the accident site.
2. Call for help:
Immediately after pulling over, assess the situation and call emergency services. Give your name, number, location and details of the accident, including the number of people injured, if there are any.
Legally, you must call the police if anyone has been seriously injured or killed. You should also call the police if you suspect any of the drivers involved in the accident are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

3. Exchange information:
You are legally obligated to provide your information to anyone who has reasonable grounds to request it. This includes other drivers involved in the crash and police officers. Get details of other drivers and witnesses and get the registration and licence numbers of other vehicles involved.

How to document an accident scene
Photograph and document the accident: you can simply use your cell phone to take photos of the damage to all the vehicles involves. Also take pictures to provide context to the accidents – traffic signs/lights, road conditions, intersections etc.
Record pertinent information: this includes everything from details of the accident to the names of police officers. Be sure to record:
- The time and date, a description and exact location of the accident scene, and anything you can remember about how your car was handling and functioning immediately before the crash.
- Names, addresses, telephone numbers, vehicle and driver’s license numbers, and insurance details.
- Names, addresses, and contact information of any witnesses. You can also record witness statements on your phone.
- Names and badge numbers of present police officers, and where to get a copy of the police report, and issuance of any citations.’
How to prepare yourself in the event of an accident
Keep important information in your cubbyhole. Things like your insurance company details, emergency numbers, and important medical information can go a long way in saving your, or someone else’s life.
Always be prepared by having an emergency kit in your boot. This kit can include:
- First aid kit
- Warning triangle
- Power bank
- Flashlight
- Basic toolkit


How Matrix is there for you
Your Matrix device is your constant companion that can save your life when needed. Its features include:
- Crash Alert: your tracking device will detect an impact on your vehicle and alert the 24-hour response centre if you’ve been involved in an accident. Ensure your emergency contacts are up to date for emergency situations.
- Roadside and Medical Assistance: you can request roadside or medical assistance with your mobile app or by pressing the panic remote if you have subscribed to this feature.
- Home Drive: exclusively available to existing Matrix clients, Home Drive get’s you and your car home safely after a night on the town with one of Matrix’s professional drivers.
- If you have a Matrix unit installed in your vehicle our Response Teams will use GPS Pin Point positioning to find your vehicle in emergencies, so you don’t need to try and give directions to your position if you are unable to.
Regardless of emergency support, you should always exercise good driving habits – keep to the speed limit, obey road traffic signs, and don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but most importantly put your phone away.