Who is Classified as an Injured Person (Yaralı) in Turkish Traffic Law?

In the context of Turkish road safety and the official driving theory exam (ehliyet sınavı), an injured person (yaralı) is defined as any road user—be it a driver, passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist—who has suffered physical trauma or physiological impairment due to a traffic collision. Identifying and assessing the status of a yaralı is the very first step in managing an accident scene. Under the Turkish General Directorate of Highways (KGM) regulations, managing casualties is a high-priority task because incorrect interventions in the first few golden minutes can lead to permanent disability or death.

Legal and Moral Obligations of Drivers at an Accident Scene

Turkish traffic legislation imposes strict duties on any driver involved in or passing by a road traffic accident. Under Article 83 of the Turkish Highway Traffic Regulation:

• Duty to Stop: Any driver involved in a collision must immediately stop, secure their vehicle, and assess the situation.
• Duty to Assist: Passersby have a legal obligation to stop and assist if professional medical help has not yet arrived. Ignoring an accident where there are injured persons is a serious offense that carries heavy administrative fines and potential criminal prosecution.
• Reporting to 112: You must report the exact location, number of injured persons, and their general condition to the Turkish emergency response center (112 Emergency Call Center).

Critical First Aid Steps: The "Do No Harm" Protocol

When dealing with an injured person, the golden rule of first aid is to do no further harm. Unskilled or panicked movements are a leading cause of permanent spinal injuries in Turkey.

1. Scene Safety First: Before approaching a yaralı, ensure your own safety. Position warning triangles (30 meters away in urban areas, 150 meters on highways) and turn on hazard warning lights.
2. Do Not Move the Casualty: Never drag or pull an injured person out of a vehicle or off the road unless there is a critical danger of explosion, fire, or toxic gas.
3. Assess Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABC): Gently check for responsiveness. Open the airway using the head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver (unless spinal injury is suspected, in which case use the jaw-thrust maneuver) and check for normal breathing.
4. Apply Bleeding Control: Use clean dressings from your mandatory vehicle first aid kit to apply direct pressure to severe wounds.

Exam Strategy: Common First Aid Questions on the Turkish Driving License Test

The MTSK e-sınav (Turkish Electronic Driving Theory Exam) heavily emphasizes first aid protocols for injured individuals. You are likely to encounter questions on the following themes:

• Spine and Neck Immobilization: Questions will test your understanding that a yaralı with suspected neck or back trauma must be kept completely stationary. The correct exam answer is almost always to stabilize the head and neck and wait for emergency services.
• The Rentek Maneuver: This is a vital exam topic. You must know that this maneuver is used exclusively to pull an unconscious casualty out of a vehicle when there is an active threat of fire or explosion, preserving the alignment of their head, neck, and trunk.
• First Aid Kit Requirements: Questions often ask about the mandatory contents of a first aid kit in Turkey, which is designed to provide immediate care to a yaralı before paramedics arrive.