Theory Mastery

Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence — and the PAMAN order

What the exam asks here: The reflex is: run to the cars right away to help, or call 112 immediately.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 12 questions

The trap

Many learners think: Leaving the scene of an accident is only an offence if there are injuries; with sheet-metal damage only, you may just drive off.

The rule is: The prohibition applies to death, injury OR damage. With sheet-metal damage only, the book prescribes its own procedure (photo + drive together to a car park, p.170) — no procedure is 'just drive off'

Challenge

The reflex is: run to the cars right away to help, or call 112 immediately. Both feel noble — and both can be fatal if you step onto the road without checking the traffic behind you. The book fixes the order in one word: PAMAN. Whoever knows that order saves themselves first, then others.

Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence — and the PAMAN order

The model

PAMAN: Personal safety, Other people involved, Marking, Alerting, Necessary first aid — in that fixed order (Book p.170). And driving off without arranging anything is not an option either: it is a criminal offence as soon as there is death, injury OR damage (Book p.171).

Read this section on its own page: The model: Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence — and the PAMAN order

Core

The book sets five steps in a fixed order, summarised in the mnemonic PAMAN: first your own safety (don't stand in the carriageway), then the safety of other people involved, then marking the accident scene (warning triangle, hazard lights, hand signals), then alerting the emergency services, and only last the necessary first aid (Book p.170). Call 112 for serious accidents; describe as exactly as possible where you are, what happened, how many vehicles are involved and how many (seriously) injured there are — the more precise the report, the faster the right help arrives. Is there only sheet-metal damage and can both cars still drive? Then there is a lighter, separate procedure: take a photo of the situation and drive together with the other party to a car park to sort out the damage — that way you hinder traffic the least. Driving off without any of these steps is prohibited as soon as there is death, injury OR damage: you may not leave the scene of the accident without disclosing your details. If you hit a parked, unattended car, a separate duty applies: leave your contact details at the damaged vehicle and inform the police — that is mandatory, even though there is no one to talk to.

Read this section on its own page: Core: Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence — and the PAMAN order

Why it matters

Anyone who reverses the order and runs onto a busy ring road to help right away can easily become the second victim. And anyone who just drives off after sheet-metal damage without a photo or arrangement commits an offence — even if no scratch is visible on the other car.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence — and the PAMAN order

Active recall

At a shopping centre in Venlo you become involved in a chain collision yourself. There is at least one injured person. According to PAMAN, what is your very first step?

Read this section on its own page: Active recall: Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence — and the PAMAN order

Teach back

Explain: what does PAMAN stand for, in which order, and why may you not simply drive off after sheet-metal damage only?

Read this section on its own page: Teach back: Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence — and the PAMAN order

Memory hook

PAMAN, in that order. Sheet-metal damage: photo + drive together to a car park. Driving off without arranging anything = an offence.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence — and the PAMAN order

Source: RVV 1990 art. 30 · RVV 1990 art. 31 · WVW 1994 art. 7 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

PAMAN order at an accident (Book p.170) — and what sheet-metal damage still requiresAccident with injury/dangerSheet-metal damage only, everyone can driveFirst step (p.170)P — Personal safetytake a photo of the situationThenO-M-A-N: other people, marking, alerting (112), first aiddrive together to a car park to sort it outWhat is NOT allowed (p.171)leaving the scene without giving details or informing policejust driving off without a photo or arrangement
What to look at: PAMAN: Personal safety, Other people, Marking, Alerting, Necessary first aid — in that order. Sheet-metal damage only: photo + drive together to a car park, not just driving off.

Signs and law

Test yourself

On the ring road near Nijmegen you see two cars collide right in front of you. Both drivers get out, shaken. No one seems injured, but the cars are stopped in the middle of the carriageway. What is your very first action?

Show the answer

PAMAN: Personal safety, Other people involved, Marking, Alerting, Necessary first aid — in that fixed order (Book p.170). And driving off without arranging anything is not an option either: it is a criminal offence as soon as there is death, injury OR damage (Book p.171).

Exam questions on this topic

About Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence — and the PAMAN order: which statement is WRONG?

  1. The prohibition applies to death, injury OR damage.
  2. The book names location, situation, number of vehicles and number of injured — a driving licence number is nowhere named as required 112 information.
  3. When calling 112 it is enough to say there has been an accident; the exact location and number of injured can follow later.
  4. For exactly this case the book gives a concrete duty: leave your contact details at the damaged vehicle and inform the police. 'That is mandatory'.
Show the answer

Correct answer: When calling 112 it is enough to say there has been an accident; the exact location and number of injured can follow later.

You describe as exactly as possible where you are, what happened, how many vehicles are involved and how many (seriously) injured there are — 'that way the right services arrive fastest'

Why learners get this wrong: Leaving the scene of an accident is only an offence if there are injuries; with sheet-metal damage only, you may just drive off.

Open this question

You describe as exactly as possible where you are, what happened, how many vehicles are involved and how many (seriously) injured there are — 'that way the right services arrive fastest'.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

You describe as exactly as possible where you are, what happened, how many vehicles are involved and how many (seriously) injured there are — 'that way the right services arrive fastest'

Why learners get this wrong: When calling 112 it is enough to say there has been an accident; the exact location and number of injured can follow later.

Open this question

About Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence — and the PAMAN order: which statements are correct? (multiple answers possible)

  1. You describe as exactly as possible where you are, what happened, how many vehicles are involved and how many (seriously) injured there are — 'that way the right services arrive fastest'.
  2. Even with only bodywork damage to a parked car you must stay and wait on the spot until the police arrive.
  3. Leaving the scene of an accident is only an offence if there are injuries; with sheet-metal damage only, you may just drive off.
  4. The book names location, situation, number of vehicles and number of injured — a driving licence number is nowhere named as required 112 information.
Show the answer

Correct answer: You describe as exactly as possible where you are, what happened, how many vehicles are involved and how many (seriously) injured there are — 'that way the right services arrive fastest'.; The book names location, situation, number of vehicles and number of injured — a driving licence number is nowhere named as required 112 information.

With sheet-metal damage only, the police often do not come; the book asks for a photo and driving to a car park together with the other party, not waiting on the spot for the police

Why learners get this wrong: Even with only bodywork damage to a parked car you must stay and wait on the spot until the police arrive.

Open this question

About Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence — and the PAMAN order: which statement is WRONG?

  1. AMAN starts with Personal safety; Alerting is only the fourth step.
  2. Leaving the scene of an accident is only an offence if there are injuries; with sheet-metal damage only, you may just drive off.
  3. You describe as exactly as possible where you are, what happened, how many vehicles are involved and how many (seriously) injured there are — 'that way the right services arrive fastest'.
  4. For exactly this case the book gives a concrete duty: leave your contact details at the damaged vehicle and inform the police. 'That is mandatory'.
Show the answer

Correct answer: Leaving the scene of an accident is only an offence if there are injuries; with sheet-metal damage only, you may just drive off.

The prohibition applies to death, injury OR damage. With sheet-metal damage only, the book prescribes its own procedure (photo + drive together to a car park, p.170) — no procedure is 'just drive off'

Why learners get this wrong: At an accident, calling 112 is your very first action, even before attending to your own safety.

Open this question

The prohibition applies to death, injury OR damage.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

The prohibition applies to death, injury OR damage. With sheet-metal damage only, the book prescribes its own procedure (photo + drive together to a car park, p.170) — no procedure is 'just drive off'

Why learners get this wrong: Leaving the scene of an accident is only an offence if there are injuries; with sheet-metal damage only, you may just drive off.

Open this question

About Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offence — and the PAMAN order: which statement is WRONG?

  1. If you hit a parked (empty) car, you don't need to do anything as long as there is no driver present to talk to.
  2. You describe as exactly as possible where you are, what happened, how many vehicles are involved and how many (seriously) injured there are — 'that way the right services arrive fastest'.
  3. AMAN starts with Personal safety; Alerting is only the fourth step.
  4. The prohibition applies to death, injury OR damage.
Show the answer

Correct answer: If you hit a parked (empty) car, you don't need to do anything as long as there is no driver present to talk to.

For exactly this case the book gives a concrete duty: leave your contact details at the damaged vehicle and inform the police. 'That is mandatory'

Why learners get this wrong: When calling 112 it is enough to say there has been an accident; the exact location and number of injured can follow later.

Open this question

You are involved in an accident at a roundabout in Alkmaar. Put the PAMAN steps in the correct order, from first to last.

Answer options: Alerting the emergency services · Marking the accident scene · Necessary first aid · Other people involved · Personal safety

Show the answer

Correct answer: Personal safety; Other people involved; Marking the accident scene; Alerting the emergency services; Necessary first aid

Open this question

In the car park of a Kwantum store in Venlo you tap the bumper of a parked car. There is only sheet-metal damage, no injuries, and the owner is not present. What do you do?

  1. I just drive off, no one is injured
  2. I leave my contact details at the car and inform the police
  3. I wait in the car park for the police to arrive, even though no one is injured
Show the answer

Correct answer: I leave my contact details at the car and inform the police

False — With sheet-metal damage only, the police often do not come; the book asks for a photo and driving to a car park together with the other party, not waiting on the spot for the police

Why learners get this wrong: Leaving the scene of an accident is only an offence if there are injuries; with sheet-metal damage only, you may just drive off.

Open this question

Statement: if you hit a parked, unattended car and there is no driver to talk to, you don't need to do anything as long as there are no injuries.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Why learners get this wrong: If you hit a parked (empty) car, you don't need to do anything as long as there is no driver present to talk to.

Open this question

On an N-road near Hengelo a car ends up in the verge right in front of you. The driver is trapped, responsive and bleeding from his arm. Traffic is coming from both directions. In what order do you act?

  1. First my own safety and marking the scene, then call 112, then give first aid
  2. First call 112, then park my car safely and mark the scene, then first aid
  3. First stop the bleeding, then park my car safely and mark the scene, then call 112
Show the answer

Correct answer: First my own safety and marking the scene, then call 112, then give first aid

False — You start by raising the alarm. First you make sure you are safe, look out for others involved and mark the scene; only then do you call 112 and give first aid

Why learners get this wrong: At an accident, calling 112 is your very first action, even before attending to your own safety.

Open this question

All practice questions of this topic

Frequently asked questions

‘Leaving the scene of an accident is only an offence if there are injuries; with sheet-metal damage only, you may just drive off’ – is that true?

No. The prohibition applies to death, injury OR damage. With sheet-metal damage only, the book prescribes its own procedure (photo + drive together to a car park, p.170) — no procedure is 'just drive off'

‘If you hit a parked (empty) car, you don't need to do anything as long as there is no driver present to talk to’ – is that true?

No. For exactly this case the book gives a concrete duty: leave your contact details at the damaged vehicle and inform the police. 'That is mandatory'

‘At an accident, calling 112 is your very first action, even before attending to your own safety’ – is that true?

No. AMAN starts with Personal safety; Alerting is only the fourth step. Running onto the road without checking for traffic just to call risks making you the second victim

‘When calling 112 it is enough to say there has been an accident; the exact location and number of injured can follow later’ – is that true?

No. You describe as exactly as possible where you are, what happened, how many vehicles are involved and how many (seriously) injured there are — 'that way the right services arrive fastest'

‘With a bleeding victim you go to them straight away to give first aid; safety and marking can come afterwards’ – is that true?

No. AMAN: Personal safety, Others involved, Marking, Alerting and only last Necessary first aid; whoever runs onto the carriageway without marking becomes a victim too

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