Public Servant Lifestyle

We all know the rules of safe driving. Don't drive when you're tired, drunk, distracted, on medication that causes drowsiness, feeling road rage or make 'phone calls en route to every friend and business associate in your Filofax.

And don't forget that all those other drivers on the road might not be as street-wise as you are. You can't just garage the car until everyone else wises up. So just in case you're involved in a road traffic accident (RTA) or witness a crash, it's good to know what to do. You can start by dropping a line to your insurance agent. Request one of their detailed brochures on the topic. (You pay a lot in premiums. At least take advantage of the free literature).

Familiarise yourself with their tips and keep the booklet in your glove compartment for easy reference.

Here's Our 'Crash' Course:

Skip the useless stuff. Forget about arguing, blaming or threatening other drivers. And if the other driver is irate, don't take the bait

Keep cool, and if the other driver is behaving in a threatening manner, don't just keep your cool, keep your distance. Call for police assistance

Request help for the injured. Dial 999. If you can't do it yourself, make sure somebody else does

Document information. If no one was injured, local police may not attend. That makes it extra important that you get proper information from involved drivers and any witnesses. Get their names, addresses, phone numbers, year and make of their vehicles, and driver's licence numbers

Do not forget to get the name of the other driver's insurance company. No matter how nice, helpful or apologetic that driver might seem at the time of the accident, the whole story could change considerably when reported to the insurance company

Inspect damage to vehicles or property. Even the tiniest collision that barely dents a door can leave it unable to open or shut properly. Take the time to look over the damage, and write it down on the same paper that has the driver and insurance info

Don't admit blame, even if you think you may be responsible. We live in a litigious society (as if you needed telling) and other drivers or witnesses can misinterpret even an innocuous statement

Discuss what happened with the police and your insurance company, and everything else can be left to the legal beagles. That's what they're there for

File a claim. Contact your insurance company at the earliest opportunity. Provide information about other drivers involved in the accident

Complete the driver's report. Many local authorities require that you fill out an accident report. Keep a copy of this report for your own records as well

Keep the details fresh. By writing down a brief description of what happened - including accurate times and circumstances - details won't be as likely to fade over time

Causes of car crashes

Causes of car crashes breakdown into three categories:

1: Unavoidable crashes. Read: Act of God. A tornado sweeps your car away, a bridge collapses as you drive beneath. Very few crashes truly fall into this category because an alert driver with sound judgment and quick reflexes can often respond to the hazard and avoid a crash.

2: Mechanical failures. Cars are complicated inventions, and anything from bad brakes to worn tyres or engine malfunctions can cause a crash. Although some cars just go south on us, resulting in a crash, there are plenty of cases when the initial failure could be traced back to a problem a driver was aware of but failed to have repaired. (Moral of that story: Keep your vehicle in good, safe condition and respond promptly to needed repairs).

3: Driver error. That certainly covers a lot of territory. Maybe a driver's health is deteriorating and physical reactions aren't so sharp anymore. Maybe the driver is inexperienced and loses his cool in a pressure situation. Maybe the person behind the wheel is more interested in scanning the radio in search of a favourite song than keeping their eyes glued to the road. (Speeding, shaving, applying make-up, talking on the phone... the guilt crosses gender and age lines. The bottom line is keep your eyes on the road and your mind on the task of driving, and you will greatly tilt the odds in your favour).

But, as the old saying goes, accidents do happen, so if you're involved in a car crash, use good judgment and keep a calm head. And, above all, remember it's only a car. Good luck and stay safe.

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