Put emergency hammer in an easily accessible place, calls for Safe Traffic Netherlands after accidents with cars
Deadly accidents involving cars that run into water have made an emergency hammer important lately. But then this must be: VVN calls on drivers to think better about a safe place for the emergency hammer.
“There are people who put the emergency hammer in the glove compartment or in the trunk. Then you can’t reach it,” says Rob Stomphorst of Veilig Verkeer Nederland (VVN). “Falling in the water, that’s such a nightmare. Then you don’t have the time to look for that thing anymore.”
More than 50 deaths a year
About 800 times a year a car is viewed in the Netherlands in the water. More than 50 people are killed. “When you get into the ditch it’s pitch dark, you can’t see anything anymore,” Stomphorst outlines. “Then you just have to hope you have the emergency hammer nearby, with which you can give a few results on the window in the dark.”
“But you are also in a panic: your heart is racing, you are taking in water. People quickly become unconscious and drown.”
Into the water to help
Three days ago it almost went wrong again, this time in Heerenveen. An elderly couple’s car ended up in the water in the center of town.
“I was working in my barbershop when I heard a huge bang and then a splash,” says Michel Menninga. “We’ve all been out. We saw what was going on, we started in the water to neighbor those people.”
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Hammer saved our lives
Yet it was still the edge, Michel himself. “Madam was already working out of the smashed window too quickly upstairs and to safety. But sir was stuck with his foot in the car.”
The elderly couple certainly had a hammer within reach. This allowed them to smash the windows on both sides of the car. “I was able to grab the hammer right away. I’m sure this has spent our lives,” says the shocked driver, who wishes to remain anonymous.
View the report on this subject here, with another story by Michel and André
‘It really didn’t matter’
While neighbor André protects it above the water, Michel has to pry his foot free. “We were able to pull him out of the car just in time. It was really close, immediately afterwards the whole car sank.”
Safe Traffic Netherlands (VVN) believes that the risk on water should take important goals. On newer models, they are often mounted on the door, or on the center console or against the roof. But quite a few cars have the hammer in a place you can’t easily grab it in an emergency.”
‘Upside down in the water’
VVN strongly advises drivers to have the emergency hammer in the car as standard and to have it done in a safe place.
“It has to be securely fastened, in an easily accessible place. Suppose you end up upside down in the water, then you have to sit it. And you have to know where in the corners of the window, then the glass will break.”
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‘Keep focus’
VVN has another clear advice: “Of course we would prefer to kill 0. Try to keep that focus during the car ride. Keep scanning what is happening in front of you and look in the mirror, everyone does that, hopefully it will save accidents.”
Saving Angels
And if something does go wrong, hopefully there will be red angels nearby, such as Michel and André. The unfortunate couple were taken to hospital immediately after the accident, but despite being terribly shaken, they were soon gone. The first thing they did after that was to thank the two men. Michel remains sober: “I think everyone would just do this.”
This is how you leave your car in the water
Safe Traffic Netherlands gives these tips in case you unexpectedly searched for water with your car:
As difficult as it is, try to save your rust. Take a moment to think about what you need to do and then take targeted action.
When you are in the water you want to be seen and to be able to see well yourself. So leave the keys in the ignition and make sure your indoor and outdoor lighting is on. That way you have more visibility. Emergency services can also find your vehicle better.
Then unfasten your seat belt as soon as possible. In the event of a hard blow, the belt tensioner can ensure that you have limited room to move. If you cannot quickly release your seat belt, cut it with the blade in the safety hammer.
- Open your side window or door
Looking for a way out! The fastest option for this is opening the side window. If the window does not open, for example due to a short circuit, use the safety hammer and shatter it by hitting the corners.
If that doesn’t work either, go to plan B: the doorman. Then wait until the car is mostly submerged in water. At this point, the pressure inside and outside the car is to be able to open at the same time.
Attention: you are not there yet! A car has important parts, so also the way in which your goals are important. Push yourself away from the car, facing the car. When you are at a sufficient distance you can turn around and continue swimming.