This lesson completes your Category AM theory course by preparing you for critical roadside emergencies. You will learn the exact legal and safety protocols required by the French Code de la route to protect yourself and others if you are involved in an accident or breakdown.
Lesson content overview
No matter how defensively you ride, an unexpected mechanical failure or traffic collision can happen to any road user. For riders of Category AM vehicles—such as mopeds, light scooters (under 50cc), and light quadricycles (commonly called voitures sans permis or voiturettes in France)—knowing how to react instantly and legally is vital.
The French Code de la route (Highway Code) and the French Penal Code dictate strict procedures immediately following a road incident. Mishandling these situations can lead to secondary accidents, severe criminal penalties, or the rejection of insurance claims. This lesson details the exact physical, medical, and administrative steps you must take to secure the scene, provide aid, and legally document a road incident in France.
In France, emergency responders and driving schools teach a simple, life-saving three-step protocol known as PAS: Protéger (Protect), Alerter (Alert), and Secourir (Rescue). This sequence must always be performed in this exact order. Attempting to rescue someone before protecting the scene, for example, risks causing a pileup and putting your own life in immediate danger.
P - Protéger (Protect): Secure the area immediately to prevent a secondary accident. This involves making yourself visible, switching on hazard lights, and marking the obstruction.
A - Alerter (Alert): Contact the appropriate emergency services with precise, objective information regarding the location, nature of the incident, and number of victims.
S - Secourir (Rescue): Provide basic, non-intrusive first aid to injured individuals while waiting for professional medical teams to arrive.
Your immediate priority is to ensure that other road users do not crash into the stationary vehicles or the people at the scene. This is especially critical for AM license holders, whose small vehicles can easily be hidden by bends, crests, or larger vehicles.
Under French law, the safety equipment requirements vary slightly depending on whether you are riding a two-wheeled moped or driving a light quadricycle:
If you are driving a light quadricycle, you must place your warning triangle on the road at least 30 metres before the vehicle, or even further if visibility is poor (e.g., around a blind curve or at the top of a hill). However, you must never put yourself in danger to place the triangle.
Once the scene is secured, you must assess whether there are any injuries. If anyone is injured, feels unwell, or if there is a hazardous situation (such as a fuel leak or blocked road), you must alert emergency services immediately.
In France, you can call several dedicated emergency numbers free of charge from any phone (even without a SIM card or with a locked screen):
When you call emergency services, remain calm and speak clearly. The operator will need:
Do not hang up until the operator instructs you to do so.
In France, failing to assist a person in danger when you can do so without risk to yourself is a serious criminal offense known as non-assistance à personne en danger (Article 223-6 of the French Penal Code). While you are not expected to perform complex medical procedures, you must provide basic, life-saving aid if you are capable.
The official French introductory first-aid certificate. It teaches the fundamental physical maneuvers to assist victims of cardiac arrest, choking, severe bleeding, and unconsciousness before professional medical help arrives.
A breakdown can be highly stressful, especially on fast-moving rural roads or in dense urban traffic. If your Category AM vehicle suffers a mechanical failure, follow these rules to ensure your safety:
If the accident results only in property damage (no bodily injuries) and the parties involved agree on the circumstances, there is no legal requirement to call the police. Instead, you must complete the Constat Amiable (European Accident Statement).
The constat amiable is a highly standardized document used across Europe. It acts as a joint factual declaration for insurance companies to determine civil liability.
Separate the copies: The form consists of carbon-copy sheets. Give one copy to the other driver and keep the original for yourself.
Fill out the back page: On the back of your copy, complete the individual declaration (this can be done later at home).
Submit to your insurer: You must send the completed and signed document to your insurance provider within 5 working days (jours ouvrés) of the incident.
Violating safety or administrative laws after an accident can carry severe criminal penalties under the French Code de la route and Penal Code.
If you are involved in an accident (even as a witness whose actions may have caused it) and you deliberately drive away to evade liability, you commit a délit de fuite (Article 434-10 of the French Penal Code).
Even if the damage is extremely minor—such as scratching a moped bumper or knocking over a wing mirror—fleeing the scene constitutes a criminal offense. You must stop, identify yourself, and exchange contact/insurance information.
You must contact the National Police (Police Nationale) or Gendarmerie immediately if:
Your response to an emergency must adapt to environmental conditions.
| Phase | Core Actions | Key French Term / Detail |
|---|---|---|
| P - Protéger | Hazard lights on, put on gilet jaune, secure scene (use triangle for quadricycles). | Sécurisation des lieux |
| A - Alerter | Call emergency services immediately if injuries or hazards exist. | 112 (Euro), 15 (SAMU), 18 (Pompiers) |
| S - Secourir | Reassure victims, protect them from cold, do not remove helmets, do not move them. | Premiers secours (PSC1) |
| Administrative | Complete the constat amiable jointly, sign, and send to insurer within 5 days. | Déclaration d'accident |
| Legal | Never flee the scene (délit de fuite is a severe crime). | Délit de fuite (Up to €75,000 fine) |
Explore all units and lessons included in this driving theory course.
Lesson content overview
Explore all units and lessons included in this driving theory course.
Explore search topics learners often look for when studying Procedures After an Accident or Breakdown. These topics reflect common questions about road rules, driving situations, safety guidance, and lesson level theory preparation for learners in France.
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Find clear answers to common questions learners have about Procedures After an Accident or Breakdown. Learn how the lesson is structured, which driving theory objectives it supports, and how it fits into the overall learning path of units and curriculum progression in France. These explanations help you understand key concepts, lesson flow, and exam focused study goals.
Your absolute priority is safety. You must secure the scene to prevent further accidents, move yourself and your vehicle to a safe place if possible, and wear your high-visibility vest. Only then should you assess injuries and call 112 if necessary.
Yes, in France, it is strongly recommended to fill out the constat amiable at the scene for all accidents, even minor ones. It serves as the primary document for insurance companies to determine liability and coverage.
Do not force them. Note their license plate number, try to get witness information, and take photos of the scene and damages. You can still submit your side of the story to your insurance company, but your evidence will be crucial.
The general rules of the Code de la route apply to all AM vehicles. You must have a warning triangle and a high-visibility vest in your vehicle. In a breakdown, ensure your hazard lights are on and you are positioned safely away from traffic while waiting for assistance.
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