From high-speed car accidents to low-speed parking accidents, there are many ways to injure yourself while driving. Staying calm and thinking clearly after an accident can make the difference between life and death. One of the instances where you should take extra precautions is when you accidentally hit a utility pole, or high winds caused a pole to fall down, leaving a power line on your vehicle.
“The safest thing you can do is stay in the vehicle,” said Clint Bragg, senior safety specialist for the Salt River Project. abc15. But what if the car is still in working condition? FirstEnergy Recommend backing up and driving away if you can do so safely. Otherwise, however, stay inside and call 911 as the ground near the vehicle may be electrified. Power lines rarely flash as dramatically as they do in movies, making it difficult to tell whether they are on or not. So always assume there is electricity in the line, even if you think it is not a power cable.
And again, definitely don’t get out of the vehicle, as you could be electrocuted. That’s exactly what happened in Portland, Oregon in January 2024, when a woman, her boyfriend, and her 15-year-old brother all tragically lost their lives. As nbc news As reported at the time, first responders told members of the press that three victims became part of an electrical circuit when their feet touched the ground while other parts of their bodies were still in contact with the vehicle.
What if you have to get out of the car?
If there is smoke coming from your car or there is a danger of fire, you need to get out. Instead of doing what a drunk man in Florida did in January, follow these steps FirstEnergyYouTube videos on how to safely exit a vehicle. First, open the door that is furthest from the fallen power line, making sure you don’t touch any metal parts. Stand at the doorframe with your arms folded across your chest and jump. You don’t need to jump very far, but just far enough that you are a fair distance away from the vehicle.
Make sure you keep your feet planted together on the ground and move forward to get away from the vehicle, either by shuffling or bunny hopping. Again, keep your feet as close as possible. Electricity flows through the energized ground like waves in water. Since these waves have different voltages, electricity from walking can find a path through your body, traveling through one leg and out the other leg, which could prove fatal.
Continue jumping or turning until you are at least 30 feet away from your car on dry ground or 60 feet on wet ground. Another thing to keep in mind is to instruct all other passengers to follow the same procedure. If children are involved, they may want to hold hands, which you should not do in this situation. Also, warn any spectators who approach the car to stay away, as they could be putting themselves in danger.
In short, you should always stay inside the car and call 911 unless fire or some other imminent danger forces you to get out. And if you must get out of the vehicle, do so in the right way.
