What happens after a collision?

In three working days following the day the collision was reported, you will receive a letter containing a reference number from the Accident Process Unit who will be co-ordinating the investigation.

We will provide you with updates at key stages of the investigation including any decision made and
details of court hearings where applicable.

Witness accounts

People involved in a road traffic collision, who witnessed a collision or who observed the vehicles before an incident may be asked to give a statement or complete a questionnaire.

Statements can be taken at the time of the incident or made some time later, usually within six weeks.

Statements are not confidential and can be disclosed, usually to members of the legal profession and insurance industries.

Before you give a statement, you might want to seek further advice. This could be from a solicitor, the Citizens Advice Bureau, your insurance company or your claims adviser.

Kent Police aims to complete collision investigations within six weeks of the incident. Some investigations can take longer if someone has died or has been seriously injured. However, you will be kept updated of progress.

Driving documents

If you were unable to produce your driving documents (for example your driving licence, registration document, certificate of insurance and/or MOT test certificate) at the collision, an officer will issue you with a Home Office Road Traffic (HO/RT1) form.

This form lists the documents you need to produce at a police station of your choice – this is a legal requirement and you must provide these documents for inspection within seven days.

Please present the HO/RT1 form with your driving documents.

You must present your driving licence in person. This is a legal requirement.

Alcohol and impairment testing

As part of its commitment to improving road safety, Kent Police tests every driver involved in a road traffic collision for excess alcohol.

If impairment by drugs is suspected, a field impairment test will also be carried out. Driver eyesight tests might also be carried out.

Vehicle removal from the collision site

For safety, crashed vehicles usually need to be quickly removed from the scene by a recovery agent. Kent Police has approved recovery contractors with secure storage facilities to do this if your own breakdown service is not considered appropriate in the circumstances.

If your vehicle is removed, you will usually be asked to pay Kent Police’s recovery agent to get the vehicle back. You might be able to recover this cost.

Your insurance company or claims adviser will help you with this.

If you need to know where your vehicle has been taken to, please contact the Force Control Room on 101.