Patente Quiz B
IT EN

Lesson and quiz, category B licence

Crashes and first aid (Incidenti e primo soccorso)

On the exam this topic tests the duties of anyone involved in a crash, how to make the scene safe, how to call for help, and the first aid steps to take and to avoid; this site has 22 true or false statements to practise on it.

The theory exam has 30 statements in 20 minutes and you pass with at most 3 mistakes. Source: Codice della Strada.

Skip to the quiz Study the rules

The real theory exam is in Italian, with French or German available on request. Lessons here keep the Italian terms in italics, and the quiz shows each statement in Italian with English help underneath. Switch to Italian only in the quiz to practise under exam conditions.

The rules

Question 1 of 1

Rule 1

Stop, always

Anyone involved in a crash linked to their own conduct must stop, even when there is only damage to property, and give their details and the information needed for compensation. If anyone is injured they must help. Leaving a crash with injured people is the crime of failing to stop (fuga), punished with six months to three years' imprisonment; failing to help the injured is omissione di soccorso, punished with one to three years' imprisonment, along with licence suspension. Even people not involved must assist if officers ask them to.

Example

Pulling out of a space you scrape the door of an empty car. You leave a note with your name and phone number under the wiper, or wait for the owner.

Legal reference: CdS art. 189

Exam traps

  • «Someone not involved need not stop even if officers ask»: false.
  • With damage to property only, the duty to stop still applies: statements that deny it are false.

Rule 2

Making the scene safe

Before helping, you make the scene safe, because a helper who is hit becomes a second casualty. Hazard lights go on when the stopped vehicle is an obstacle or a danger. Outside built up areas, when the stopped vehicle must be marked with the triangle, you put on the reflective vest or braces before getting out, on the hard shoulder or in a lay by too (art. 162 c. 4-ter). The warning triangle goes on the carriageway behind the vehicle, at least 50 metres back, so that approaching drivers can see it from 100 metres; propped in the rear window it is useless.

Example

One evening on a dual carriageway the car stops in the lane. You switch on the hazards, put the vest on inside the car, get out on the right and carry the triangle about fifty long strides behind the car.

Legal reference: CdS art. 162; Reg. art. 357

Exam traps

  • «The triangle goes ten metres back» or «in the rear window»: false, at least 50 metres on the road.
  • The vest goes on before getting out, not after.

Rule 3

Calling 112

The single emergency number is 112, which routes the call to medical services, police or fire brigade. The caller gives the exact location, such as road, kilometre marker and direction, and how many people are involved and injured: those details decide which vehicles are sent and how fast.

Example

You call 112 and say: «State road 16, kilometre 812, towards Bari, two cars, three injured, one not responding».

Exam traps

  • Statements naming any number other than 112 as the single emergency number are false.

Rule 4

The injured: what to do and what to avoid

Injured people are not moved unless there is immediate danger such as fire, because movement can worsen injuries, especially to the spine and in fractures. A motorcyclist's helmet is removed only if necessary and by trained people. An injured person is not given anything to drink, because they may vomit and it can complicate surgery. Someone who reports no pain may have internal injuries masked by shock and adrenaline. An unconscious casualty who is breathing, with no suspected spinal injury, goes into the recovery position; if they are not breathing normally, you call 112 and start chest compressions at once, following the operator's instructions.

Example

A motorcyclist on the ground is conscious and wants the helmet off. You reassure them, ask them not to move their neck and wait for the ambulance.

Exam traps

  • «The helmet must come off at once to help breathing»: false.
  • «A conscious casualty may be given a drink»: false.
  • «Someone with no pain certamente (certainly) has no internal injuries»: false.

Rule 5

Bleeding and burns

Heavy external bleeding is treated with direct pressure on the wound, using a clean cloth, until help arrives. A tourniquet cuts off circulation and can cost the limb, so it is kept for extreme cases, when pressure does not stop the bleeding. A burn is cooled with water and covered with a clean cloth; oil and creams trap heat and get in the way of later treatment.

Example

A passenger has a deep, heavily bleeding cut on the forearm. You press a clean T-shirt hard on the wound and keep the pressure on until the ambulance arrives.

Exam traps

  • «A tourniquet must sempre (always) be applied»: false, normally you press on the wound.
  • «Oil goes on a burn»: false.

Rule 6

With no injuries, clear the road

Those involved avoid, as far as possible, altering the scene and the traces that help reconstruct the crash, but they must also avoid obstructing traffic. When there is only damage to property, you avoid obstructing traffic where possible (art. 189 c. 3), so you move the cars off the carriageway without waiting for the police.

Example

A minor shunt blocks a lane at rush hour. You take three photos from different angles and pull the cars over to fill in the form.

Legal reference: CdS art. 189

Exam traps

  • «With damage to property only, the vehicles must mai (never) be moved before the police arrive»: false.

Rule 7

What can go wrong

Three scenes show how the order of actions after a crash changes the outcome. First scene: at night on state road 106 along the Ionian coast in Calabria a car leaves the road. A passing driver stops abruptly in the lane, gets out without a vest or hazard lights and runs towards the crashed car. An approaching van sees him at the last moment and just misses him. Art. 162 of the Codice della Strada requires the reflective vest before getting out outside built up areas, and the triangle goes at least 50 metres back: without them the helper risks becoming the second casualty. Second scene: on the via Emilia near Reggio Emilia a motorcyclist falls after being hit by a car. The frightened car driver drives off without stopping. The rider has a fracture, and the driver is traced through cameras: he faces the crimes of failing to stop and failing to help under art. 189, with imprisonment and a long licence suspension. Meanwhile a passer by had tried to take off the rider's helmet and was stopped by a nurse at the scene: a helmet comes off only if necessary and by someone trained. Third scene: in Milan, on viale Monza, a light shunt with nobody hurt blocks a lane at rush hour. The drivers leave the cars where they are for half an hour waiting for the police, and the queue causes a second shunt further back. With damage to property only, the cars should have been photographed and moved to avoid obstruction. The shared lesson is simple. Safety comes first, with vest, lights and triangle, then 112 with precise details; the injured are not moved; and you always stop.

Legal reference: CdS art. 162; CdS art. 189

CdS: Codice della Strada (d.lgs. 285/1992). Reg.: its implementing regulation (d.P.R. 495/1992). c.: comma, the numbered paragraph of an article.

Full text of the Codice: www.aci.it/i-servizi/normative/codice-della-strada.html

Trap words

False statements on the exam often repeat a true rule and change a single word. These are the Italian words to read carefully in this topic. They stay in Italian because that is how they appear on the exam.

Words that appear in every topic

sempre
always. An absolute: the statement is true only if there is no exception at all.
«Keeping to the limit sempre (always) guarantees a safe speed»: false, in fog or on ice you go slower.
solo, soltanto, esclusivamente
only. It rules out every other case, so a single exception makes the statement false.
«The children sign is placed soltanto (only) outside primary schools»: false, it also appears near parks and sports grounds.
mai, in nessun caso
never, in no case. The statement is true only if the behaviour is not allowed in any situation.
«A driver with priority may in nessun caso (never) give it up»: false, they may, as long as they make it clear.
ovvero
In the language of the Codice it means «or» and introduces an alternative. It does not mean «that is».
Emergency stop: the vehicle has broken down ovvero (or) the driver must stop because they feel unwell (art. 157). Two separate cases; either one is enough.
obbligatoriamente, è obbligatorio
compulsory. A duty: it is not enough for the behaviour to be allowed, it must be required.
«Overtaking on the left is obbligatorio (compulsory) even past a driver turning left»: false, in that case you pass on the right.
è consentito, è ammesso
allowed, permitted. A permission, not a duty. «È consentito» does not mean «è obbligatorio», and the reverse.
«It is consentito (allowed) to pass on the right a driver who has signalled a left turn»: true, and art. 148(7) actually requires it.
di norma, di regola
as a rule, normally. It states the general rule, which allows exceptions, so the statement does not claim to hold in every case.
«Outside built up areas warning signs are placed di norma (as a rule) 150 metres ahead»: true, and a panel gives any other distance.
anche
also, even. It stretches the rule to one more case; ask whether that added case really belongs.
«The no parking sign anche (also) bans stopping»: false, a brief stop is still allowed under a no parking sign.
automaticamente, di per sé
automatically, in itself. It suggests an effect that applies on its own, when the effect usually depends on a sign or a specific condition.
«In fog the motorway limit automaticamente (automatically) drops to 90 km/h»: false, the automatic cut applies to rain and snow.
qualsiasi, qualunque, in ogni caso
any, in every case. It generalises; look for the category or situation the rule leaves out.
«The safe distance is the same at qualunque (any) speed»: false, it grows with speed.
corsia
lane. The part of the carriageway wide enough for one line of vehicles (art. 3).
A two way carriageway (carreggiata) usually has two corsie (lanes), one for each direction.
carreggiata
carriageway. The part of the road for vehicles, made up of one or more lanes (art. 3). It does not include the verge or the pavement.
A speed limit applies to the whole carreggiata (carriageway), not only to the lane next to the sign.
banchina
verge, hard strip. The strip beside the carriageway and outside it, not meant for driving (art. 3).
Outside built up areas you park off the carriageway, for example on a suitable banchina (verge) (art. 157(3)).
fermata
stop. A brief halt to let people get in or out, with the driver present and ready to move off (art. 157).
Pulling in to drop off a passenger and leaving straight away is a fermata (stop), not a sosta (parking).
sosta
parking. A prolonged halt during which the driver may leave the vehicle (art. 157).
A divieto di sosta (no parking) does not ban stopping; a divieto di fermata (no stopping) bans parking too.
arresto
halt. An interruption caused by traffic, such as a red light or a queue. It is not the driver's choice (art. 157).
Stopping at a red light is an arresto (halt); no stopping ban prevents it.

Check yourself

Three statements on the topic. Answer and see straight away whether the rule has stuck. These answers are not saved.

Question 1 of 1

  1. Il triangolo di segnalazione fuori dei centri abitati va collocato a dieci metri dal veicolo fermo.

    Outside built up areas the warning triangle goes ten metres behind the stopped vehicle.

  2. Il casco di un motociclista ferito va rimosso subito per farlo respirare meglio.

    An injured motorcyclist's helmet should be removed at once so they can breathe.

  3. Dopo un incidente con soli danni alle cose i veicoli non vanno mai spostati prima dell'arrivo della polizia.

    After a crash with damage to property only the vehicles must never be moved before the police arrive.

Topic quiz: 22 statements

Untimed. After each answer you see the solution, the explanation, the trap words highlighted and a link back to the rule. At the end you get your score and can retest just the ones you missed.

Question 1 of 1

  1. Chi provoca un incidente con danno alle persone ha l'obbligo di fermarsi e di prestare assistenza.

    A driver who causes a crash with injuries must stop and give assistance.

  2. Il triangolo di segnalazione fuori dei centri abitati va collocato a dieci metri dal veicolo fermo.

    Outside built up areas the warning triangle goes ten metres behind the stopped vehicle.

  3. Fuori dei centri abitati, chi scende dal veicolo fermo sulla carreggiata che va presegnalato con il triangolo deve indossare il giubbotto retroriflettente.

    Outside built up areas, anyone leaving a vehicle stopped on the carriageway that must be marked with the warning triangle must wear a high visibility jacket.

  4. Il casco di un motociclista ferito va rimosso subito per farlo respirare meglio.

    An injured motorcyclist's helmet should be removed at once so they can breathe.

  5. A un ferito cosciente si può dare da bere per dissetarlo.

    A conscious casualty may be given water to drink.

  6. Il numero unico per le emergenze in Italia è il 112.

    The single emergency number in Italy is 112.

  7. In caso di emorragia esterna abbondante va esercitata una compressione diretta sulla ferita.

    In case of heavy external bleeding, direct pressure must be applied to the wound.

  8. Dopo un incidente è consigliabile spostare subito i feriti fuori dai veicoli.

    After a crash the injured should be moved out of the vehicles straight away.

  9. Prima di soccorrere i feriti occorre mettere in sicurezza il luogo dell'incidente.

    Before helping the injured the scene of the crash must be made safe.

  10. Fuori dei centri abitati, quando il veicolo fermo sulla carreggiata va presegnalato con il triangolo, il giubbotto retroriflettente va indossato prima di scendere.

    Outside built up areas, when a vehicle stopped on the carriageway must be marked with the triangle, the high visibility jacket is put on before getting out.

  11. Anche in un incidente con soli danni alle cose è obbligatorio fermarsi e fornire le proprie generalità.

    Even in a crash with damage to property only, a driver must stop and give their details.

  12. Chiamando il 112 vanno indicati il luogo preciso e il numero delle persone coinvolte.

    When calling 112 the exact location and the number of people involved must be given.

  13. Un ferito privo di coscienza che respira può essere messo in posizione laterale di sicurezza se non si sospettano lesioni alla colonna vertebrale.

    An unconscious casualty who is breathing may be placed in the recovery position if no spinal injury is suspected.

  14. In caso di arresto del respiro e del battito cardiaco vanno iniziate subito le compressioni toraciche.

    If breathing and heartbeat have stopped, chest compressions must be started at once.

  15. Le luci di emergenza vanno accese quando il veicolo fermo costituisce un ostacolo o un pericolo per gli altri utenti.

    Hazard lights must be switched on when a stopped vehicle is an obstacle or a danger to other road users.

  16. Il triangolo di segnalazione può essere appoggiato al lunotto posteriore del veicolo.

    The warning triangle may be propped against the rear window of the vehicle.

  17. Un ferito con sospetta frattura va sollevato per verificarne le condizioni.

    A casualty with a suspected fracture should be lifted to check their condition.

  18. Su un'ustione conviene applicare olio o pomate per alleviare il dolore.

    Oil or ointment should be put on a burn to ease the pain.

  19. In caso di emorragia da un arto va applicato sempre un laccio emostatico.

    A tourniquet must always be applied to bleeding from a limb.

  20. Chi non è coinvolto in un incidente non è tenuto a fermarsi neppure se richiesto dagli agenti.

    Someone not involved in a crash need not stop even when officers ask them to.

  21. Dopo un incidente con soli danni alle cose i veicoli non vanno mai spostati prima dell'arrivo della polizia.

    After a crash with damage to property only the vehicles must never be moved before the police arrive.

  22. Un ferito che non lamenta dolore non ha certamente lesioni interne.

    A casualty who feels no pain certainly has no internal injuries.

What next

All exam topics

Educational content. For the official rules, see the Codice della Strada and legal notes.