In the United States alone, over 40,000 people die each year in a car accident. Here’s how to maximize your survival chances should your brakes fail, if your car is in water or if you break down on railway tracks.
Brake Failure
If the brakes fail while driving, change gears, if applicable, and apply the handbrake. You must do several different things at once: take your foot off the accelerator, turn on your warning lights, pump the foot-brake rapidly (they may still catch), shift down through the gears and apply handbrake pressure. DON’T slam on the brakes, begin with gently pumping bursts, steadily braking harder until you stop.
If there is no time for this, then take your foot of the accelerator and shift down through the gears – and grab the handbrake – but DON”T apply max force until you are sure skidding can be avoided.
Look out for escape lanes and places were you can leave the road, preferably a soft bank or a turn that slopes uphill.
If your speed remains unchecked, for example on a steep down hill, then brush the car along a hedge, a wall or any other available obejct to reduce speed. If there is a vehicle in front of you, use it to slow you down by running into it as gently as possible. Use your warning lights, blow your horn and flash your lights to give the driver in front of you as much warning as possible about the impending collision.
Car Under Water
Adandon the car before it sinks, if possible. A car will not sink immediately as it will take time for it to fill with water. Oustide water pressure will make it very difficult to open the car door, so open the window if possible and escape through it. If there are small children in the car, it may be possible to push them through – do not worry about possessions.
If you have not been fast enough, then CLOSE all the windows firmly, get children to stand and lift babies to the roof. Tell all adults to release their seat belts and tell everyone near a door to be ready with their hands on their respective handles. Immediately release any automatic door or master locks. Water could prevent them from working. Do not attempt to open the doors yet.
As water fills the interior, air will be trapped near the roof. The water pressure inside the car will nearly equalize the pressure of the water outside the car. As the car comes to a rest, and is nearly full of water, tell everyone to take a deep breath, open the doors and swim to the surface, breathing out as they do so. Eveyone leaving through the same door should link arms. If you have to wait for someone to get out before you do, hold your breath for that moment.
Precaution: Always park parallel to water, never facing it. If you are forced to park facing water then leave the car in reverse with the handbrake on (if facing away from water, then leave the car in first gear with the handbrake on).
Car On Railway Tracks
If a car breaks down on an unmanned level railway crossing, put it into gear and use the starter motor to jerk it clear. This will work with a manual gear, but NOT with an automatic.
If a train is approaching, abandon the car. Carry children or sick persons to safety and keep away – about 50 yards (150 ft) should be enough. Remember, if a train is travelling at high speed, it could fling car wreckage quite a distance.
Also remember that trains are pulling massive loads and it is impossible for them to stop quickly without causing a massive derailment. Do not think that any train can (or will) stop before it hits the car.
If there is no train visible, or you can see one several miles in the distance, do what you can to avert the collision.
If the car can be moved by pushing then push it clear of all tracks – you can not be sure on which set of tracks the train will be on.
If there is an emergency telephone, warn signalmen further down the track of the situation. If not, walk up the track towards the train.
Stand well to one side (high speed trains create a massive slipstream) and wave a car blanket or some other bright colored garment to warn the driver. If he is doing his job properly, he will know that he is approaching a crossing and should look ahead to see that all is clear.
Car Collision
If a collision seems inevitable, stay with it and steer the car to do as little damage to others and yourself as possible. Try to avoid a sudden stop by driving into something that will give with the impact, like a hedge or fence, not a tree.
Seat belts (you are wearing them, aren’t you?) will help stop you from hitting the windshield. Most new cars have airbags for both the driver and the front passenger.
Given the speed and force with which an airbag inflates, it is vitally important that you do not sit too close to the steering wheel. If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downwards so that the airbag is pointed towards your chest rather than your head, but make sure you can see the instruments clearly.
Also, never place a small child, or an infant seat in the front. The airbag impact could kill them.
If neither of these options are available, adopting the brace position will offer you the best chance of survival in a crash becuase it stops you from impacting too heavily on the interior of the car. The important thing is to get your upper torso as low as possible. There are two alternative types of brace position depending on the space that you are in:
- The first position requires you to place your head on your knees, while your hands hold on to your lower legs
- The second position is more useful if you are driving the car – place your hands on the steering wheel, then, place your forehead onto the back of your hands before the impact
Jumping Out
Do NOT try to jump out of a runaway car unless you HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. For example, if the car is headed for a cliff or another substantial drop and that you will not survive the impact. If this is the only available option, then open the door, undo the safety belt, and begin to roll yourself into a ball. Drop from the car in a rolling movement. Do not resist the ground but keep balled up and continue to roll.
Extreme Circumstances vs. Day-To-Day
Obviously these are extreme circumstance and hopefully neither you nor your family will have to experience any of these events. Regardless, whether or not your situation is extreme or relatively mundane, it is always a good idea to have an emergency kit in your vehicle. I have about two different kits, one used for short trips (e.g. commuting to to work) and long trips (traveling to see family or adventure outings).
Either way, you should look to put your kit together using standard emergency supplies or if you want to be sure you don’t miss anything important (we can’t always think of everything), have a professional do it. Here is a professional kit company, founded by First Responders, who has been putting together emergency kits for individuals and companies alike.