The Department for Transport (DfT) has warned drivers about a vital '24-hour' rule. Insurance experts have said that failing to follow it could lead to fines, penalty points, or even a driving ban.

Under Rules 286 and 287 of the Highway Code, drivers involved in a collision must share key information within 24 hours of the incident. Under the section "Documentation", Rule 286 reads: "If you are involved in a collision which causes damage or injury to any other person, vehicle, animal or property, you MUST:

Can I be banned from driving?

Yes. According to the insurance and motoring experts at Admiral, "you must report all road accidents to the police within 24 hours. If you don’t, you could be fined, given points on your licence or disqualified from driving".

It adds: "You can call 101 to report the accident or complete an online form. You can find out which police force you need to contact on Police.uk."

You have seven days to do this

Rule 287 reads similarly and notes: "If another person is injured and you do not produce your insurance certificate at the time of the crash to a police officer or to anyone having reasonable grounds to request it, you MUST:

• Report it to the police as soon as possible, and in any case, within 24 hours
• produce your insurance certificate for the police within seven days."

The Highway Code is essential reading for everyone on the roads, including pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, drivers, motorcyclists, and mobility scooter users.

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