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Maryland driving lesson · Crashes & Traffic Stops

Minor crashes, unattended property & animals

A 3-minute lesson from the Maryland course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Crashes & Traffic Stops
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
43, 44

Most crashes are minor. If no one is hurt and your car can move, clear the road, then trade information and document everything. Hitting a parked car or property still carries duties.

Know the rule

If no one is injured and your vehicle can move, move it off the road as close as possible to where the crash happened. This keeps people safe and prevents backups.

Handbook p. 43 ↗

Exchange with the other driver(s):

  • Name, address, and phone number
  • License plate number and state
  • Driver's license number
  • Vehicle make and model
  • Insurance information
Handbook p. 43 ↗

Know the rule

Ask witnesses for their names, addresses and phone numbers.

Handbook p. 43 ↗

Remember, and write down if you can:

  • Location, date and time
  • Number of vehicles involved
  • Weather and road conditions
  • Damage to the vehicles (take pictures if you can)
  • The facts of how the crash happened
Handbook p. 43 ↗

If you strike an unattended vehicle or other unattended property:

  • Stop as close as possible to the crash without blocking traffic more than necessary
  • Try to find the owner to tell them what happened and give your information
  • Can't find the owner? Leave a note on what happened, with your contact info, where they'll easily find it
Handbook p. 44 ↗

Know the rule

If you hit and injure a domestic animal (dogs, cats, horses, cows), you must immediately call the police.

Handbook p. 44 ↗

Domestic animal

Animals such as dogs, cats, horses, and cows.

Handbook p. 44 ↗

Put it into practice

Backing out of a space, you dent a parked car and the owner is nowhere around. Stop nearby without blocking traffic, try to find the owner, and if you can't, leave a note with what happened and your contact information where they'll see it.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

If your vehicle can move after a crash with no injuries, what should you do first?
  1. Move it off the road near the crash site
  2. Leave it exactly where it stopped
  3. Drive it home to inspect the damage
  4. Wait for police before moving it at all

Answer: Move it off the road near the crash site

You should move your vehicle off the road, as close as possible to the crash site, to keep everyone safe and prevent backups.

Handbook p. 43 ↗
What information should you exchange with the other driver after a minor crash?
  1. Only your name and phone number
  2. Name, address, phone, license, insurance
  3. Only your license plate number
  4. Only your insurance company's phone number

Answer: Name, address, phone, license, insurance

You should exchange name, address, phone number, license plate, driver's license, vehicle info, and insurance information.

Handbook p. 43 ↗
If you hit an unattended parked vehicle and can't find the owner, what must you do?
  1. Drive away, since no one saw it happen
  2. Wait exactly one hour before leaving
  3. Call a tow truck and leave
  4. Leave a note with your contact info

Answer: Leave a note with your contact info

If you cannot find the owner, leave a note about what happened with your contact information where they can easily find it.

Handbook p. 44 ↗
If you hit and injure a domestic animal like a dog or cat, what must you do?
  1. Immediately call the police
  2. Continue driving; it's not required to stop
  3. Only report it if the owner is present
  4. Leave a note only if it is a large animal

Answer: Immediately call the police

If you hit and injure a domestic animal, you must immediately call the police.

Handbook p. 44 ↗
You should try to remember and write down the crash location, date, time, and weather conditions.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Recording details like the location, date, time, and weather conditions is recommended after a crash.

Handbook p. 43 ↗
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