The present disclosure relates to an assistance system for a first vehicle, comprising a detection unit for detecting accident- and/or breakdown-related data from at least one device in a vehicle, a position determining unit for determining the current position of the first vehicle, an evaluation unit for evaluating data detected by the detection unit and the position determining unit, and a communication unit for issuing data using radio signals—automatically or following the triggering of an actuating unit in the vehicle—concerning an area around the current position of the first vehicle to be avoided by other road users using the communication unit if the evaluation unit has determined—based on the evaluation of the data collected—that the first vehicle has suffered an accident or that the first vehicle has experienced a breakdown.