After a collision and when stopped by police

Key points

1. After a collision, stop immediately and make your identity known; leaving the scene brings severe penalties.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “Stop your vehicle immediately. Return to the scene of the collision and make your identity known to any interested person. Severe penalties are imposed against drivers who choose to leave the scene of a collision”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 62

2. Report all collisions to the nearest state or local police immediately.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “Report all collisions to the nearest state or local police immediately.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 62

3. If you damage a parked vehicle or property, leave your name and address in writing attached securely to it.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “you must leave your name and address in writing attached securely to such vehicle or property so that the owner may find it when he/she returns to their vehicle or property.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 62

4. A police report is required if someone is injured, property damage is over $1,000, or you hit an unattended vehicle.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “A police report is required if: x x x Someone is injured in the collision. Property damage is over $1,000. You hit an unattended vehicle.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 62

5. Leaving the scene of a crash with personal injury or death is a felony.

   Source: Handbook p. 63

   “Duty to stop in collisions resulting in personal injury [or death] - Felony”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 63

6. If police signal you to stop, turn on your right signal, slow down and pull as far right as possible.

   Source: Handbook p. 64

   “Turn your right directional on and begin to slow down, and eventually pull to the right as far as possible.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 64

7. Signing a citation is not an admission of guilt, only an acknowledgment that you received it.

   Source: Handbook p. 64

   “If asked to sign a citation, do so. It is not an admission of guilt, solely an acknowledgement that you have received the citation.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 64

8. For an emergency vehicle, pull right, stop and wait. Before pulling out, signal and check for a second one, and stay 500 feet behind emergency vehicles.

   Source: Handbook p. 35

   “If an emergency vehicle is approaching, pull over to the right, stop and wait for it to pass. Before re-entering the flow of traffic; activate your turn signal, glance over your shoulder to ensure another emergency vehicle is not coming, then proceed. Always drive 500 feet behind emergency vehicles.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 35

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Rhode Island practice test

1. 1. How far behind an emergency vehicle does the Rhode Island manual advise a driver to remain?

   1. At least 500 feet
   2. At least 50 feet
   3. Exactly 100 feet
   4. No distance is advised after the vehicle passes
   Show answer

   At least 500 feet. Rhode Island's highway safety list tells drivers to give emergency vehicles the right of way at all times, pull over to the right and stop until they pass, and then signal and check over the shoulder for another emergency vehicle before re-entering traffic. The same item says to always drive 500 feet behind emergency vehicles. Fifty feet is the manual's distance for staying behind a large truck so its driver can see you, and 100 feet is the turn signal distance. Let the gap open to at least 500 feet before continuing.

2. 2. In Rhode Island, when must a collision additionally be reported to the police?

   1. Only when a vehicle must be towed
   2. When property damage is over $100
   3. Only when a driver is under 18
   4. When it involves personal injury or property damage over $1,000
   Show answer

   When it involves personal injury or property damage over $1,000. The manual says any collision involving personal injury or property damage in excess of $1,000 must additionally be reported to the police. A tow is not the test, and the rule does not depend on a driver's age. The $100 figure is far below the reporting threshold. If you hit an unattended vehicle or property, you must also leave your name and address in writing, securely attached, and report the collision to the nearest state or local police.

3. 3. You are stopped, and a vehicle behind you is coming too fast to stop. If the collision cannot be avoided, what should you do with your brakes?

   1. Press the brakes as hard as you can until after the impact
   2. Pump the brakes quickly so the driver behind sees your lights
   3. Take your foot off the brakes and leave them off after the impact
   4. Release the brakes just before the impact, then brake right after it
   Show answer

   Release the brakes just before the impact, then brake right after it. When a rear end collision is threatened, the manual first says to flash your brake lights early, look for open space ahead and move forward if possible, and turn right if your path is not clear. If the crash still cannot be avoided, let off the brakes just before the impact, because that helps soften it. Then brake immediately after the hit so you do not slide into another traffic lane. Holding the brakes hard the whole time skips the release step, and staying off them afterward skips the final step.

Source: the Rhode Island Driver's Manual, XI. In Case of a Collision. 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.