Montana · Handbook chapter 10 · 4 min read

Chapter 10: Emergencies, crashes, police stops and your record

What to do in Montana for brake failure, blowouts, stuck accelerators and running off the road, how to avoid or survive a collision, crash scene duties and reporting, police stops and your driving record.

Why this chapter matters

Every driver meets an emergency sooner or later. Knowing the steps ahead of time turns panic into action, and the law sets clear duties after any crash.

Vehicle emergencies

Avoiding a collision

You have three choices: stop, turn or speed up.

• With ABS: press the brake hard and keep pressing, even if the pedal pushes back. ABS also lets you steer while braking.
• Without ABS: brake hard without locking the wheels; if they lock, let up, then press again.
• You can usually turn faster than you can stop. Without ABS, brake, then let up and steer.
• It is generally better to run off the road than to crash head-on.
• Speeding up can help when you are about to be hit from behind or the side and there is room ahead.

Protecting yourself

• Hit from behind: press back into the seat with your head against the head restraint, and be ready to brake.
• Hit from the side: belts keep you behind the wheel; get ready to steer or brake.
• Hit from the front: try to avoid a direct head-on hit.
• Always wear your lap and shoulder belt.

At a crash scene

• If you are involved, you must stop. Leaving a crash with injury or death before police have what they need is a crime.
• Move vehicles off the road if they can drive; turn off ignitions, do not smoke, and stay away from downed wires.
• Use flares or other warning devices to warn traffic.
• Do not stop to look at a crash you are not involved in, unless help has not arrived.

If someone is hurt

• Call police and emergency medical help.
• Do not move the injured unless they are in danger, such as a burning car.
• Help anyone not walking and talking first: check breathing, then bleeding.
• Stop bleeding with direct pressure on the wound.
• Give injured people nothing to drink, not even water, and keep them warm.

Reporting

• Exchange names, addresses, license numbers, vehicle details and insurance information, and get witness details.
• For a parked car whose owner you cannot find, leave a note with your contact details and the date and time.
• Report immediately to law enforcement if anyone is hurt or killed or damage is $500 or more.
• Report to the Highway Patrol for injury, death or $1,000 or more damage to one person's property, within 10 days.

Police stops

1. Turn on your right turn signal to show you have seen the officer.
2. Pull onto the right shoulder, not the median, in a well-lit place if you can.
3. End phone calls and turn off the radio.
4. Stay in the vehicle unless told to get out.
5. Keep everyone's hands in view; roll down tinted windows.

Losing your license and your record

Your license is a privilege that can be suspended, revoked or cancelled. Impaired or distracted driving, driving while suspended and being a minor in possession can all cost you your license. Your driving record holds personal history, licensing details, convictions and crashes, and license sanctions.