Report a road traffic incident

Thank you. If you were involved in a collision as a driver or rider you must personally report the incident yourself to police as soon as possible and, in any case, within 24 hours of the collision. No one else can do this for you.

See the Road Traffic Act 1988, Section 170 for further details.

Please provide as many details as you can about the incident. 

How to report

You can report it:

• online - click 'Start' below to begin
• at your local police station
• by telling a police constable

What we’ll ask you for

Please have the following details available if possible:

• date and time of the incident
• registration and make of your vehicle registration and make of any other vehicles involved
• contact details of the other person, or people, involved in the incident
• contact details of anyone who was injured and details of their injury
• contact details of any independent witnesses to the incident

Independent witnesses

An independent witness must be someone who witnessed the incident but who is wholly unrelated to the incident and to anyone involved.

• They can't be a driver or rider involved in the incident.
• They can't be a passenger involved in the incident, unless they were in a taxi.
• They can't be known to the drivers or riders involved in the incident, such as a family member or friend.

Videos or photos

Your evidence should:

• show the entire incident
• show a full vehicle registration number (or partial number if a collision)
• not contradict the information you give in your report

You must:

• keep the original, unedited evidence for 12 months
• not share it online (for example social media)
• not edit your evidence (other than trimming one minute before the start and end of the incident)

 

Who sees my evidence

If the case goes to court, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the defendant will see the evidence. We may also use your video or photos to support police training or road safety schemes.

If your evidence shows you have committed an offence, we may prosecute you as well.

 

CCTV

If you think CCTV may have recorded the incident, we need to know:

• where the camera is
• who owns it
• how to contact them
• what the footage will show

 

What will happen to your online report

We will review what you send us and assess whether we can take any action. If we haven't contacted you within six weeks it's because we are not able to take any action.

Once you have submitted a report on this site, you’ll be able to download a copy of it. That will be a collision report. You will be able to send that report to your insurance company or solicitor.

How long it takes to complete this form

Average completion time: 20 minutes.

When you're ready, click 'Start' to begin.

 

Start