Land Transport Act 1998

If you need more information about this Act, please contact the administering agency: Ministry of Transport
22 Driver’s duties where accident occurs

(1)

If an accident arising directly or indirectly from the operation of a vehicle occurs to a person or to a vehicle, the driver or rider of the vehicle must—

(a)

stop and ascertain whether a person has been injured; and

(b)

render all practicable assistance to any injured persons.

(2)

The driver or rider of the vehicle must, if required by an enforcement officer or any other person involved in the accident, give the officer or other person—

(a)

the driver’s or rider’s name and address; and

(b)

the name and address of the owner of the vehicle; and

(c)

if the vehicle concerned is a motor vehicle, the number or letters or other expression on the registration plates assigned to the vehicle.

(3)

If the accident involves an injury to or the death of a person, the driver or rider must report the accident to an enforcement officer as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case not later than 24 hours after the time of the accident, unless the driver or rider is incapable of doing so by reason of injuries sustained by him or her in the accident.

(4)

If the accident involves damage to an unoccupied motor vehicle or to other property belonging to a person other than the driver or rider, the driver or rider must (unless he or she is incapable of doing so by reason of injuries sustained by him or her in the accident), not later than 48 hours after the time of the accident, report to the owner—

(a)

the driver’s or rider’s name and address; and

(b)

the number on the registration plates assigned to the motor vehicle; and

(c)

the location of the accident.

(5)

If the accident involves damage to an unoccupied motor vehicle or to other property belonging to a person other than the driver or rider, but the owner cannot readily be contacted or identified, the driver or rider must report the accident to an enforcement officer as soon as practicable and in any case within 60 hours after the time of the accident.

(6)

If the motor vehicle involved in the accident is a fire engine or an ambulance travelling to an emergency, the driver complies with subsection (1) if he or she stops the vehicle and sets down a member of the crew who is equipped with a first-aid kit and discharges all the other duties imposed on a driver by that subsection.

(7)

Subsections (3) to (5) do not apply if the driver or rider has been arrested or detained as a result of the accident.

(8)

This section does not apply to a rail vehicle unless that vehicle is a light rail vehicle.

Compare: 1962 No 135 s 65

Section 22(3): amended, on 1 October 2008, by section 124(2) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 22(5): amended, on 1 October 2008, by section 124(3) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

Section 22(8): added, on 20 July 2005, by section 103(3) of the Railways Act 2005 (2005 No 37).