BEFORE A CRASH HAPPENS BUY A “DRIVE TIME” KIT.

R200 CLICK HERE TO ORDER
INCLUDED IS A DISPOSABLE CAMERA, DETAILS OF PROCEDURES, ROAD MARKING CRAYONS FOR DETAILS, ETC.

REMEMBER – THE VICTIMS ARE DEAD AND HAVE NO VOICE OR RIGHTS IN S.A.
YOU NEED TO ACT AS THEIR VOICE AND ASSIST IN THE CASE.

IF YOU ARE AT A CRASH SCENE AND ABLE, DO THE FOLLOWING.
USE YOUR “DRIVE TIME” KIT / CELLPHONE TO TAKE AS MANY PHOTO’S/VIDEO CLIPS.

GET FOLLOWING DETAILS.
1. DRIVER OF VEHICLE. IF THEY ARE STILL AT THE WHEEL TAKE A PICTURE TO CONFIRM THIS. VIDEOCLIP THE STATE OF DRIVER, SLURRED SPEECH, BEHAVIOUR, WALKING, ETC.
2. THE REGISTRATION NO. OF BOTH CARS. LICENCE DISC’S.
3. WHERE THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS. GLASS ON STREET. SKID MARKS. POINT OF IMPACT.OIL MARKS, ETC.
4. THE SURROUNDINGS- ROAD SIGNS, STATE OF ROAD, STREET LIGHTING, RAIN, ETC.TRY AND SHOW THESE WITH THE CARS IN POSITION.
5. DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES
6. ANY OTHER DAMAGE-POLES, SHOP WINDOWS, ETC.
7. PICTURES OF ALL INVOLVED.
WHO WAS IN WHICH VEHICLE? WHO WAS DRIVING?
8. VISIBLE INJURIES TO THOSE INVOLVED. WHERE BODIES LANDED.IF BODY/ BODIES WERE REMOVED - TAKE PHOTO’S OF BLOOD STAINS, TO SHOW WHERE IT/THEY LANDED.
9. WHAT AMBULANCE TOOK WHICH PATIENT TO WHAT HOSPITAL?
10. WHO IS THE SAPS MEMBER PUTTING IN THE DOCKET? HIS NAME, FORCE NO., STATION, AND TRY AND TAKE A PICTURE OF HIM.
(SAPS MEMBERS ON SCENE COULD TRY TO PITCH YOU SOMETHING LIKE – “IF WE OPEN A DRUNK DRIVING DOCKET THE INSURACE COULD TAKE LONG.”
THIS WILL BE IN A 'VENDER BENDER" WITH NO INJURIES TO BOTH PARTIES. BE AWARE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY YOU WANT A CASE TO BE OPENED.IF THEY WILL NOT DO SAY TELL THEM YOU WILL REPORT THEM TO THE ICD-INDEPENDENT COMPLAINTS DIVISION OF THE POLICE.)

THE LEGAL PROCEDURES BY THE POLICE ARE GOVERNED BY THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH.
•WITH FENDER BENDERS AND NO INJURIES, EVERY DRIVER AT EVERY CRASH SHOULD BE TESTED WITH A SCREENING BREATHALYZER. •IF HE/SHE IS POSITIVE FOR ALCOHOL THEY SHOULD BE TAKEN FOR A DRAEGER EVIDENTIAL BREATHALYZER TEST WITHIN 2 HOURS OF THE CRASH.
•WITH SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH GENERALLY BLOOD TESTS ONLY ARE TAKEN. IT WOULD BE ADVISABLE TO HAVE A BREATH TEST AS WELL,AS THE RESULTS ARE IMMEDIATE.IF THE BREATH ALCOHOL LEVEL IS VERY HIGH A DISTRICT SURGEON SHOULD ALSO BE SEEN TO CERTIFY ABOUT THE LEVEL OF INTOXICATION - AND TO CERTIFY THIS WOULD IMPAIR DRIVING SKILLS.

• IT IS ADVISABLE TO DO A BLOOD TEST AND A DRAEGER BREATHALYZER TEST IF POSSIBLE. THE SAPS OFFICER MUST ARREST THE DRIVER, OPEN A CASE, COMPLETE A SAP 308A FORM FOR THE BLOOD TEST, AND GIVE THAT TO A DR. OR REGISTERED NURSE AT ANY HOSPITAL, OR A DISTRICT SURGEON.THIS MUST BE DONE WITHIN 2 HOURS FROM THE CRASH. THE MEDICAL PERSONEL DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO TAKE A BLOOD TEST IF THEY ARE GIVEN THE SAP 308A FORM.
•IF THEY REFUSE THEY CAN BE ARRESTED.

PLS DON’T GET INVOLVED WITH THE PRIMARY INVESTIGATION WITH “DO THIS OR THAT.”DON’T WALK UP TO A SAPS OR TRAFFIC OFFICER AND TAKE HIS PICTURE.
IT WILL CAUSE ONLY NEGATIVE PROBLEMS TO AN ALREADY NEGATIVE SITUATION.

ONE PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND WORDS.

STAND IN A SAFE PLACE SO THAT YOU ARE NOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR.

STAY CALM. THINK. STOP BLEEDING. STAY WITH INJURED TIL THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE. THEN FOCUS GET SOMEBODY TO COME AND HELP OR TAKE 5MINS TO TAKE PICTURES.

YOU CAN NOT HELP PATIENT BUT YOUR PICTURES CAN LATER WIN THE WAR.

ONCE A DRUNK DRIVING/RECKLESS AND NEGILENT DRIVING/CULPABLE HOMICIDE CASE HAS BEEN OPENED GET THE FOLLOWING:

1.CASE NUMBER. EG JONES CAS 11/08/2000
2.GET THE NAME AND CELL NO.OF THE SAPS INVESTIGATION OFFICER ON YOUR CASE. ARRANGE A MEETING. CHECK HOW COMMITTED HE IS TO THE CASE.
3.IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL WITNESSES GIVE HIM THEIR DETAILS, AND KEEP CHECKING THEY HAVE GIVEN A STATEMENT. THE EARLIER STATEMENTS ARE GIVEN THE MORE CREDIBLE THEY ARE IN COURT.
4.ASK AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH HOW THE INVESTIGATION IS GOING AND ASK FOR PROGRESS
5.GO TO THE MORGUE AND ASK FOR THE REPORT ON A MEDICO-LEGAL POST MORTEM EXMINATION. YOU HAVE TO PAY A SMALL AMOUNT TO HAVE THIS PHOTOCOPIED.
6.CHECK IF THERE IS A FORENSIC REPORT ON BLOOD ALCOHOL. CHECK REGULARLY IF IT HAS COME. CONTACT CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT D.O.HEALTH PRETORIA IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS AND ASK FOR INVESTIGATIONS.
7. AN ACCIDENT REPORT IT WILL HAVE AN AR/ NUMBER. GO TO THE POLICE STATION AND ASK FOR A COPY OF THE AR REPORT. SAY IT IS FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES.
8.WHICH OF THE ABOVE IS ON THE FRONT OF YOUR DOCKET? DRUNK DRIVING / RECKLESS AND NEGILENT DRIVING / CULPABLE HOMICIDE.
9. STATEMENTS UNDER OATH OF ALL EYEWITNESS/FIRST RESPONDERS (SAPS) AND ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.
10.MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE THE PUBLIC PROCECUTOR (PP) OF YOUR CASE.DISCUSS DETAILS.
11.ASK FOR A VERY EXPERIENCED PP IN CASES OF SERIOUS INJURY/DEATH.
12.TRY AND GET THE CASE MOVED UP TO REGIONAL COURT IN CASES OF SERIOUS INJURY/DEATH. (THEY ARE ABLE TO GIVE HIGHER FINES AND SENTENCES.)
13.IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT ASK FOR AN ACTING BRIEF/ADVOCATE WHO CAN WATCH WHAT IS HAPPENING AND IF NECESSARY ADVISE THE PP AS THEY USUALLY HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE.
14.ASK THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR IF YOU MAY MAKE A STATEMENT ONCE THE GUILTY VIRDICT HAS BEEN GIVEN.IF YOU FEEL THE MAGISTRATE/JUDGE HAS NOT GIVEN APPROPRIATE SENTENCE GIVE FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT THE SERIOUSNESS OF DRINK DRIVING TO SA ECONOMY. ASK FOR A HIGHER FINE/SUSPENSION OF DRIVERS LICENCE AS ALLOWED.GET FACTS FROM SADD.
15.CONTACT SADD FOR ADVICE. SADD CAN LOAN YOU POSTERS AND BANNERS FOR THE COURT CASE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE SERIOUSNESS OF DRUNK DRIVING.
16.CONTACT THE MEDIA IF YOU ARE PUTTING ON A DISPLAY/PROTEST.