You are almost to your car when you spot it; the chipped paint, the long scratch, and the worst part: the dent. Whether you are a student, faculty member, or visitor at Elizabethtown College, if you keep a car on campus, there is always the possibility of a fender bender. As a student who keeps her car on campus, I often worry if my vehicle will be safe where I last parked it. The idea that another driver may accidently hit your vehicle runs through every car owner’s mind, and that is exactly what a fender bender is: an accident. But what should a student do if he or she is involved in such an accident on college grounds?

While not many students have been involved in fender benders on campus, several have a good idea of how they would handle the situation should it ever happen to them or a friend. “My first instinct would be to contact Campus Security, and I would definitely report it no matter how big or small the damages would be,” said Sophomore Mattie Sweet. Reporting the accident as soon as possible, whether you were hit, or you hit someone else is always the best option.

“I haven’t been in a fender bender, but I know someone who has,” said Sophomore Emily West. “A friend of mine’s boyfriend visited campus and someone had hit his car. But he didn’t know what to do about it because he was a visitor.” Sometimes students are unsure of how to handle an accident on campus when the victim is a friend who is visiting.

“We can document the incident and possibly contact the owner. That’s one reason we require [vehicle] registration,” said Assistant Director of Campus Security Dale Boyer. If for some reason you are unable to stay with the car you hit, leave a note. Some students may be worried the police will become involved, however, that is not the case. “Minor accidents, which do not involve injury or damage to property (other than the cars) such mail boxes or buildings, are considered ‘non-reportable’ by the police as long as both parties agree to exchange information,” Boyer said. There are no policies written about on-campus accidents regarding students, faculty, or guests. The rule to follow would be the same as if you were in a convenience store parking lot or out on the road.

The size and locations of parking lots on campus can sometimes play a role in the amount of accidents on campus. Some lots, such as those located at Myer Residence Hall and Ober Residence Hall are smaller and more difficult for larger cars such as SUVs and pick-up trucks to turn around. “I feel pretty comfortable with the parking lots,” said Sophomore Luke Mackey. “I’m sure there are a lot [of fender benders] on campus though because some of the campus roads and lots are small and not conducive for larger vehicles.” The term “a lot” however, is relative to what Boyer believes happens when driving around campus.

“One is too many if it’s your car that is hit,” Boyer said. “I would say that considering the amount of traffic we have and the number of cars we have on campus, we do not have a lot of accidents. It helps if people do not park in no parking areas like the fire lane at the Quads.”

If you really want to keep your car as safe as possible, try parking in the larger lots available on campus. So if you are a freshman, you can stick to parking in Brown lot located across from Lake Placida. Most of the upperclassman can park among the smaller lots near residence halls, or in the larger lots connected to the Hackman apartments. As for friends who decide to bring their cars when visiting their friends on campus, it is important to register their vehicle. Even if they are only staying for the day, by registering the vehicle, Campus Security will be able to notify the driver should an accident occur. Just because you do not attend school here does not mean that cannot receive help, as long as you report what happened.

For more information on what to do after a fender bender, you can contact Dale Boyer at Campus Security. If you are involved in an accident on campus, do the responsible thing, stick around to find the owner, call Campus Security, or leave a note. “Most of the time students do the right thing,” Boyer said. “Think of it this way: next time it could be your car that gets backed into.”