Road Traffic Collision (RTC) Standing Order RT 1 PDF

**RECORDING AND INVESTIGATION OF ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISIONS** Title Standing Order RT 1 -------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- Reference No Recording and Investigation of Road Traffic Collisions R...

**RECORDING AND INVESTIGATION OF ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISIONS** Title Standing Order RT 1 -------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- Reference No Recording and Investigation of Road Traffic Collisions Relevant Department or group Road Traffic Steering Group Ownership Chief Inspector Maria ATALIOTI Document author Chief Inspector Maria ATALIOTI Approved by Deputy Chief Constable Approval Date May 23 Implementation Date May 23 To be Reviewed Date May 26 Last Revised Date Sep 20 Quality Assured By Policy Department HQ Protective Marking Not protectively marked Linked to other Standing Order RT 9, A 14, Motorway Policing Relevant Legislation MVRT Ord 5/2006, MVRT Reg. 22/2013 Pages (including this page) **TABLE OF CONTENTS** [Introduction](#S1) [Page 3](#S1) [Section 1](#S1) --------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------ [RTC Categories](#S2) [Page 3](#S2) [Section 2](#S2) [Record of Collisions](#S3) [Page 3](#S3) [Section 3](#S3) [Investigation of Collisions](#S4) [Page 4](#S4) [Section 4](#S4) [Supply of information to insurance companies/advocates](#S5) [Page 4](#S5) [Section 5](#S5) [Vehicle Defects and Motoring Offences](#S6) [Page 4](#S6) [Section 6](#S6) [Guidelines for RTC Investigations](#S7) [Page 4](#S7) [Section 7](#S7) [Family Liaison Officer](#S8) [Page 10](#S8) [Section 8](#S8) **INDEX OF APPENDICES** [Appendix A](#AA) [Category A RTCs](#AA) [Page 11](#AA) ------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- [Appendix B](#AB) [Attending and Investigating Any RTC of category B, C, D or E (if applicable)](%5Cl) [Page 12](#AB) [Appendix C](#AC) [Sketch Plan Symbols](#AC) [Page 13](#AC) [Appendix D](#AD) [List of Qualified Officers for Investigation of RTCs of Categories D and E](#AD) [Page 14](#AD) **1.** []{#S1.anchor}**Introduction** The purpose of Road Traffic Collision (RTC) attendance and/or investigation by the Police is to save life and establish if any violation of the law has been committed and to prosecute offenders when it is considered appropriate. A scrutiny of RTC records has shown that a large number of damage only Collisions are recorded on Collision report sheets, statements from the parties involved were taken but eventually no Court proceedings arose from those Collisions. The Police Service should not spend time and materials recording information solely to assist Insurance Companies or other parties to progress civil actions. The purpose of this Standing Order is to give advice on the recording and investigation of RTCs, as well as to identify RTC trends in order to take the necessary actions to prevent RTCs altogether. **2.** []{#S2.anchor}**RTC Categories** **3.** []{#S3.anchor}**Record of Collisions** i\. Officers are normally dispatched to RTCs following the creation of an initial entry in SBAPS DOR. If the RTC is a fatal one or very serious with severe injuries and damages, then any post-incident events or actions by the Police reference the Collision must be entered in an incident logbook by the UCR Controller. If an Officer comes across the Collision, he/she will inform the Police Station and the UCR Controller will immediately make an initial DOR entry in the SBAPS and undertake to inform relevant emergency services accordingly if required. ii\. Collisions which are reported after the parties have left the scene shall be recorded in the same manner as Collisions attended by an Officer at the time. When a Collision is reported, which occurred outside the SBAs, i.e. in the Republic, it will not be dealt with in the same manner as if it had occurred in the SBAs. No need for any action, apart from contacting CYPOL and confirming that they are aware of it, unless assistance is specifically requested by CYPOL. However, if the Collision is close to the boundaries, especially now with the new highways, where SBA Police can get there first and assist with casualties and traffic, then SBA officers can attend the scene but must not investigate the Collision. In either case, the UCR Controller to whom the report is made shall cause an entry to be made in DOR SBAPS. **4.** []{#S4.anchor}**Investigation of Collisions** \(i) RTCs falling under Category A shall be dealt with as per part 7 and Appendix A. \(ii) RTCs falling under categories B to E must be visited and investigated as per part 7 Appendix B. **5.** []{#S5.anchor}**Supply of Information to Insurance Companies/ Advocates** Information to Insurance Companies, advocates, etc will be supplied by the Divisional Commander/Deputy Divisional Commander upon application and payment of the prescribed fees. **6.**[]{#S6.anchor} **Vehicle Defects and Motoring Offences** Other motoring offences or vehicle defects coming to light during attendance/investigation of a Category A RTC must be dealt with in the normal way in a separate file or within the Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme. If the vehicle defects are a contributory factor to the Collision, then a report from a vehicle examiner must be included in the prosecution file. **.** []{#S7.anchor}**Guidelines for Road Traffic Collision Investigations** (7.1) [Action Upon Information for ALL Categories of RTC] The Officer receiving the report must immediately dispatch a Police patrol to the scene and, where necessary, other emergency services. **[RTC involving Official Vehicles.]** All RTCs involving SBAA, BFC, RoC Government, Diplomatic and United Nations vehicles must be visited and investigated as per Appendix B, unless directed otherwise by SMT. All RTCs involving SBA Police vehicles are to be investigated by a Supervising Officer in accordance with Standing Orders RT9 and A18. Whenever a Police Officer is driving or in charge of a Police vehicle and is involved in an RTC, the driver shall report the collision in compliance with the law of the area where the collision occurred. Additionally, the Officer should report it to the Senior Divisional Officer on call, through the chain of command. **[RTC involving Military Service Vehicle]** In the event of a RTC involving a member of the Service community driving a military service vehicle, the Cyprus Joint Police Unit (CJPU) must be informed immediately. Where CJPU attend the scene of a Collision full liaison and co-operation will be established between the two Policing Agencies. (7.2) **[Actions at the Scene for ALL categories of RTCs]** a. b. c. d. e. (7.3) The immediate priorities of Police at a Collision are best summed up by the mnemonic C.O.W.: CASUALTIES OBSTRUCTION WITNESS i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. The Police Officer escorting the body or bodies from the scene of a RTC should ensure that the following details are recorded: i. ii. iii. iv. i. ii. iii. iv. v. \(c) [Witness] The evidence of witnesses, especially independent witnesses, is most valuable and Officers attending a scene of a road traffic should: i. ii. iii. (7.5) [Examination of the Scene] a. b. c. d. e. (7.6) When preparing sketch plans of road traffic Collisions, the following should be included: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. l. m. n. (7.7) [Leaving the Scene] a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. **8.** []{#S8.anchor}**Family Liaison Officer (FLO)** In all fatal Collisions the SMT Officer on Call will make arrangements for a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) to be appointed. He/she will be in close contact with the family of the deceased during the investigation and until the finalisation of the case and court proceedings. **Abbreviations and Glossary** RTC Road Traffic Collision ------- ------------------------------------- DOR Daily Occurrence Record CYPOL Cyprus Police SBAA Sovereign Base Areas Administration BFC British Forces Cyprus RoC Republic of Cyprus CJPU Cyprus Joint Police Unit SOs Standing Orders UCR Unified Control Room CIU Collision Investigation Unit SIO Senior Investigating Officer FCI Forensic Collision Investigator FLO Family Liaison Officer DL Driving Licence MVL Motor Vehicle Licence RVW Road Vehicle Worthiness SMT Senior Management Team []{#AA.anchor}APPENDIX A **Category A RTCs -- Minor Damage -- Low Impact Collision** Actions to be carried out in dealing with Category A RTCs: 1. Establish no injuries and no damage to other property. 2. Establish agreement between the drivers involved. 3. Establish all relevant paperwork is valid, i.e. D/L, Insurance, MVL, RVW Certificate, through CYPOL if necessary 4. Establish no other offences committed; if it is established that any of the following occurred i. Drink and Drive ii. Violating stop sign/ traffic lights iii. Mechanical defect iv. Careless or Dangerous driving v. Excessive speed vi. Driving without Insurance/ Driving licence vii. Overtaking in no overtaking zone viii. Any other traffic violations depending on the circumstances ix. 5. It is with the order of the Supervisor whether the RTC will be dealt with as NFA. 6. For a RTC to fall under Category A, one of three scenarios must prevail. 1. It is brought to the attention of the Police but the drivers involved do not wish Police intervention. In this occasion Police action will be only a DOR entry and a SITREP. 2. Police attend the scene and establish 1-5 above. Police action will be to record the RTC details, make a DOR and SITREP entry and mark the field "Investigated by SBA Police" to "No". 3. Police Attend the scene and find one or more of 1-5 above present. Police action will be to proceed with a Full investigation of the RTC. DOR and SITREP entries, RTC Register raising CMS and mark the field "Investigated by the SBA Police" to "Yes". []{#AB.anchor}APPENDIX B **Attending and Investigating Any RTC of category B, C, D or E** **(if applicable)** Actions to be carried out in dealing with Category B, C, D or E: 1. Keep yourself safe -- consider all hazards -- illuminating vests 2. Make sure no further injuries -- save life -- render FIRST AID 3. Inform Supervisor to attend- may need CIU to attend -- Inform Duty officer 4. Cordon the area -- do not hesitate to cordon a bigger area and do not let anyone tamper with the scene 5. Scene Log/Incident log at Station / UCR 6. Ascertain whether vehicles involved have been moved prior to police arrival  7. Breath test and/or Narcotest 8. Collision Report Book MUST be filled 9. Details of all involved, drivers, passengers, witnesses etc 10. Record all complaints of injuries 11. Record First account(s) and signature  12. Take Photographs, from distance moving towards the scene 13. Measurements, sketch plan, ask for impact point 14. Signatures on Sketch Plan indicating drivers' agreement with it. 15. Consider vehicle removal -- appropriate registers to be completed 16. Open road ASAP  17. Prepare SBAPS entries, DOR, RTC, CMS 18. If damage to property - Complete Damage to SBAA/Motorway property, send it to the emails given on form and to Officer Manager of Division; when signed and received add to docket  19. If allegations are made of mechanical defect, convey vehicle to station recorded as exhibit in transit and request an examination from qualified vehicle examiner. []{#AC.anchor}APPENDIX C **Sketch Plan Symbols** []{#AD.anchor}APPENDIX D **List of Qualified Officers for Investigation of RTCs of** **Categories D And E** **[Senior Investigating Officers ]** PI 280 George Louis PS 320 Theoharis Hadjiloukas **[Forensic Collision Investigators ]** PS 202 Ahmet Salahi PC 380 Savvas Pitsillos **[Vehicle Examiners]** PC 230 Marcos Michaellides PC 241 Enis Suleyman