Key points
If you are involved in a crash you must stop, and police must be told if anyone is injured or killed.
Source: Handbook p. 79
“If you are involved in an accident you must stop ■ If you are involved in an accident with a parked vehicle, you must try to locate the owner ■ If any person is injured or killed, the police must be notified”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 79Do not move injured people unless they are in a burning car or other immediate danger.
Source: Handbook p. 80
“Do not move the injured, unless they are in a burning car or in other immediate danger.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 80If you hit a parked car and cannot find the owner, leave a note where it can be seen.
Source: Handbook p. 80
“If you cannot, leave a note in a place where it can be seen with information on how the owner can reach you and the date and time of the accident.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 80Report to law enforcement immediately if anyone is hurt or killed or damage is $500 or more.
Source: Handbook p. 80
“You must report an accident immediately to law enforcement if anyone is injured or killed, or property damage is $500 or more.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 80Report to the Highway Patrol for injury, death, or $1,000 or more damage to one person's property, within 10 days.
Source: Handbook p. 80
“You must report to the Highway Patrol if there is an injury, a death, or property damage of $1,000 or more to one person’s property. Accident forms are at law enforcement agencies or available from most insurance agents. You must file the report within 10 days of the accident.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 80For an emergency vehicle from any direction, yield and pull to the right edge of the road and stop when safe.
Source: Handbook p. 80
“The drivers of other vehicles must yield the right-of-way and, when possible and safe, pull over and stop at the right edge of the road when they see or hear an emergency vehicle approaching from any direction.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 80On highways posted 50 mph or more, slow at least 20 mph below the limit next to a stopped emergency vehicle, and change lanes when possible.
Source: Handbook p. 80
“On highways with a posted speed limit of 50 MPH or more, vehicles in a lane directly next to a stationary emergency or police vehicle displaying emergency signals must slow down to a speed of at least 20 miles below the posted speed limit.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 80When an officer pulls you over, turn on your right turn signal to show you have seen the officer.
Source: Handbook p. 81
“Acknowledge the officer’s presence by turning on your right turn signal.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 81Never drive to a crash, fire or disaster just to look, since you may block rescue vehicles.
Source: Handbook p. 79
“Never drive to the scene of an accident, fire, or other disaster just to look.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 79
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| $500 | damage that requires an immediate report to law enforcement | Handbook p. 80 |
| $1,000 | damage to one person's property that requires a Highway Patrol report | Handbook p. 80 |
| 10 days | deadline to file the crash report | Handbook p. 80 |
| 50 mph / 20 mph | on highways posted 50 mph or more, slow at least 20 mph below the limit beside a stopped emergency vehicle | Handbook p. 80 |
3 questions from the Montana practice test
1. If a driver is involved in a crash in Montana and someone is injured or killed, what must happen?
- A report is optional if the vehicles can be driven away
- The driver may leave after exchanging insurance cards
- Only the vehicle owner must contact law enforcement
- The driver must notify the police
Show answer
The driver must notify the police. The accident procedure requires police notification when any person is injured or killed. Whether the vehicles remain driveable does not erase that duty, and exchanging insurance information is an additional step rather than a replacement for contacting authorities. The owner-only option is too narrow because the obligation applies to the involved driver. Leaving after a private exchange can abandon people who need help and fails the stated reporting rule. A practical cue is injury or death changes a routine information exchange into an immediate law-enforcement report.
2. What should a driver do when passing a stationary emergency or police vehicle on a highway posted at 50 MPH or more?
- Stop in the adjacent lane beside the emergency vehicle
- Keep the posted speed if the emergency lights are visible
- Slow to at least 20 miles below the posted speed limit
- Speed up to clear the lane before responders can move
Show answer
Slow to at least 20 miles below the posted speed limit. On a highway posted at 50 MPH or more, traffic in the lane directly beside a stationary emergency or police vehicle displaying emergency signals must slow to at least 20 miles below the posted limit. If possible, change to a farther lane as well. Keeping full speed exposes responders to passing traffic, while stopping beside them or accelerating creates another hazard. Scan ahead for emergency lights and plan the lane change early.
3. When possible, how should a vehicle pass a stationary emergency or police vehicle displaying emergency signals?
- Switch to a lane farther away from the stationary vehicle
- Move closer to the stationary vehicle before passing
- Stop beside the stationary vehicle until it leaves
- Stay in the adjacent lane even when another lane is safely open
Show answer
Switch to a lane farther away from the stationary vehicle. When possible, Montana advises moving into a lane farther away from a stationary emergency or police vehicle displaying emergency signals. That extra lateral distance gives responders more working room. Moving closer reduces the buffer, stopping beside the vehicle can obstruct traffic, and staying in the adjacent lane ignores the safer option when another lane is open. The manual also requires a speed reduction on highways posted at 50 mph or more, so drivers should combine both protections when the situation allows.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with emergencies questions from the free Montana practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the Montana Driver Manual, Chapter 7: Emergencies, Crashes, and Enforcement Stops. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.