A vast majority of us have been stuck in traffic because of a motor vehicle crash. You’re on your way to work. Heading home. Taking the kids somewhere. Trying to make an appointment. Suddenly, traffic slows to a crawl. You see the flashing lights ahead. Police. Firefighters. Paramedics. Perhaps an ambulance or even an air ambulance. And then you see the crashed vehicles. For many of us, the first thought is, “I wonder what happened?” That curiosity is valid. But what we do with that curiosity matters.
A crash scene is not a roadside attraction. It’s not an opportunity to pull out your phone and take a picture. There are real people behind those flashing lights. There may be someone injured inside a vehicle. Someone who is scared. Someone who has just had their life changed in a matter of seconds. And there are first responders on scene working to help them.
Your Curiosity Can Create Another Crash
One of the most dangerous things drivers can do around an emergency scene is become distracted. Slowing down excessively to look. Turning your head to watch. Taking photographs. Recording video. Trying to see what happened. Posting it to social media. Every one of these behaviours takes your attention away from the road. And when you are travelling past an emergency scene, that distraction can have devastating consequences. Drivers can create additional crashes because they are watching the original crash instead of watching the road. Think about that. A crash has already happened. Emergency personnel are trying to manage the scene and help those involved. Then another driver becomes distracted by what they see and creates another collision. Now there are more victims. More injuries. More families receiving devastating phone calls. More first responders forced to deal with another emergency.
First Responders Are Doing a Job. Respect It
When you see police officers, firefighters, paramedics or other emergency personnel at a crash scene, remember why they are there. They are not putting on a show. They are not creating content for social media. They are there because someone needs help. A firefighter may be working to safely remove someone from a vehicle. A paramedic may be treating someone with life-threatening injuries. A police officer may be securing the scene, investigating what happened or protecting everyone from additional danger. Road crews and tow operators may also be working in extremely dangerous conditions. These individuals are doing their jobs in an environment that can change in an instant. The last thing they need is a driver distracted by a phone, staring at the crash or trying to get a better look. Give first responders the space and attention they need to do their jobs safely.
When an Air Ambulance Is on Scene, Stop and Think
Seeing an air ambulance landing near a crash is a powerful reminder of just how serious an emergency can be. When a helicopter is landing or taking off, the situation becomes even more dangerous for everyone at the scene. Emergency crews need space to work, and the air ambulance crew needs a safe area to land and depart. This is not the time to stop and watch. It is certainly not the time to take out your phone and start recording.
If you see an air ambulance responding to a crash:
- Slow down and follow the directions of emergency personnel.
- Give emergency vehicles and crews plenty of space.
- Never attempt to approach the helicopter.
- Keep your eyes on the road.
- Do not stop to take photographs or videos.
- Do not drive distracted while watching the helicopter.
- Be prepared for emergency vehicles to enter or leave the scene quickly.
- Follow any road closures or instructions from police.
Remember, an air ambulance is there because someone needs urgent medical care. As a crash survivor, I know that what you see from the outside doesn’t tell you the whole story. You may see a helicopter, flashing lights and emergency vehicles. What you don’t see is the person at the centre of that response and the family who may be worried about them.
Before You Post That Crash Photo Think About the Family
There is another consequence of photographing and posting a crash scene that people often fail to consider. The family may not know yet. Imagine learning through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or a shared post that your spouse, parent, child, sibling or friend has been involved in a serious crash. Imagine seeing a photograph of the vehicle before a police officer, hospital or other appropriate authority has had the opportunity to notify you. Imagine recognizing the vehicle. Imagine recognizing the person. That is not how anyone should have to learn that someone they love may be injured or may have died.
When a serious crash occurs, notifying next of kin is a deeply sensitive part of the emergency response. Posting photographs or identifying information before loved ones have been notified can cause unimaginable additional trauma. You could be posting someone’s worst moment before their family even knows. You may think you are simply sharing something you saw on the road. You may think, “I didn’t post the person’s name.” But a photograph can reveal far more than you realize. A recognizable vehicle. A licence plate. A business logo. A piece of clothing. A location. A distinctive vehicle. A photograph of the crash itself. Sometimes, family members or friends can identify someone from very little information. And once something is posted online, you have no control over how quickly it spreads. Someone can screenshot it. Someone can share it. Someone can download it. Someone can repost it. What took you five seconds to post could cause a family a lifetime of pain.
Slow Down for the Right Reason
There is an important difference between slowing down to safely navigate an emergency scene and slowing down because you want to see what happened. Your job is not to investigate the crash. Your job is not to take photographs. Your job is not to record what happened. Your job is to get safely past the scene without becoming part of it. If emergency responders are on the roadside:
- Pay attention.
- Follow directions from police and other responders.
- Move over when required and when it is safe to do so.
- Reduce your speed appropriately.
- Keep both hands on the wheel.
- Put your phone away.
- Keep your eyes on the road.
- Give emergency personnel plenty of space.
- Do not stop or slow down unnecessarily to look at the crash.
Think About the Person Behind the Crash
Behind every crash scene is a person. A parent. A child. A spouse. A friend. A coworker. Someone who had somewhere to go. Someone who never expected that a routine drive would change their life. As a crash survivor, I know firsthand that there is far more happening at a crash scene than what you can see from behind the wheel. There can be fear. Pain. Confusion. Shock. And the realization that life may never be exactly the same again.
The consequences of a serious crash do not end when the damaged vehicles are removed from the roadway. For survivors, there may be surgeries, rehabilitation, chronic pain, traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, financial pressure, lost income, changes to family life and a recovery journey that can last for months, years or even a lifetime. I know the story does not end when the flashing lights disappear. That is why seeing people treat a crash scene like something to photograph or post online can be so difficult for survivors. What you see as something interesting happening on the side of the road may be the beginning of someone’s hardest chapter.
Before You Reach for Your Phone Remember This
Ask yourself: Would I want strangers photographing me if I were lying injured on that road? Would I want a photograph of my damaged vehicle shared across social media? Would I want someone slowing down to watch while emergency responders were trying to save me? If the answer is no, then give others the same respect you would want for yourself. Put the phone down. Keep your eyes on the road. Move over when safe. Follow the instructions of first responders. And keep moving. Be the driver who gets safely past the scene. Not the driver who becomes the next emergency.
The Crash Support Network is a truly unique platform that brings together survivor-focused support and road safety education in one accessible space. Created for individuals and families affected by motor vehicle collisions, it offers online support groups, a crash survivor blog, a quarterly newsletter “ Sharing Our Recovery,” and a growing library of informative articles. Built on a foundation of connection and compassion while amplifying the importance of road safety, the Crash Support Network goes beyond a website; it’s a community united around support, education and making our roads safer for everyone
