NHTSA Underwater

They say that one death is a tragedy and one million deaths a statistic.? What about 500?

That question arises in the context of the (approximately) 500 people who die annually in the U.S. in vehicle submersions either as a result of crashes or flooding.? Every one of these stories is a tragedy and at least two regulatory bodies – European, and Australasian New Car Assessment Programs – have endorsed Rescue and Extrication safety ratings starting in 2023.? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, meanwhile, has been silent.

It's no secret that the last major mandated solution adopted and promulgated by NHTSA was brought about by legislation followed by a lawsuit.? The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act (requiring backup cameras in new cars) passed Congress in 2008 – followed by a lack of regulatory progress which brought about a lawsuit from the Gulbransen family in 2014 resulting in implementation in 2018.

The backup camera mandate was adopted for the purpose of saving fewer than an estimated 150 lives annually.? Submerged vehicles are slaying more than three times as many people annually – yet no action in the U.S. is pending, voluntary or otherwise.? There isn’t even any testing underway, except for that testing that has been conducted by AWOS Technologies, a company with a sensor-based solution for automatically rolling windows down in the event of a submersion.

When a car is submerged in water any passengers inside have precious little time to make their escape – maybe 60 seconds.? Most people think the options are to either smash the windows or open the doors.

Sadly, many cars today have laminated windows – designed to prevent the ejection of passengers in the event of a crash, but also likely to impede any intentional smashing.? As for opening the doors, not only is it difficult, it allows water to fill the cabin of the vehicle accelerating the process of submerging – if you are actually able to open the door, that is.

No, the only solution is something along the lines of the AWOS sensor – located in the engine compartment, the heaviest part of the car.? The AWOS sensor – for automatic window opening system – ensures the quickest, easiest, and most reliable means of egress from the vehicle.

Even more important, the clever executives at AWOS Technologies have partnered with Roadside Telematics to ensure that emergency responders are notified in the event of a vehicle submersion. So the solution not only automates the opening of the windows, it also automates notification of 9-1-1 operators regarding the condition and location of the vehicle.

Every year in the USA, approximately 11,000 land motor vehicle crashes involving submersion result in up to 500 fatalities. The cause of death isn’t always trauma, but rather drowning due to entrapment.

Vehicle submersion is actually becoming a frequent headline grabber.? Just weeks ago in South Korea nearly a dozen motorists died in their vehicles in a flooded tunnel.? Floods and extreme weather are becoming commonplace and resulting fatalities are multiplying.

It doesn’t take much to locate the latest tragic tales:

• ?South Korea floods: Dozens die in flooded tunnel and landslides - BBC News
• Suffolk police: Setauket man found dead in submerged car in Stony Brook (news12.com)
• 5 Florida teens killed in submerged car
• Damien Medwin dead - AFL legend dies aged 38 in horror car crash as body is found submerged in water in Tasmania | The US Sun (the-sun.com)
• Two dead after black Mercedes driven into flooded road in Liverpool | The Independent
• Swansea Marina: Man dies after car plunges into water - BBC News
• VIDEO: Man found dead in submerged car in Johns Island pond identified (live5news.com)
• Person found in car submerged in Missouri River (kctv5.com)
• 5 dead, baby and sister still missing after Pennsylvania flash flooding
• Four people including two children are missing after heavy rains in Nova Scotia : NPR
• Japan: Floods and mudslides kill six as scientists warn extreme rainfall events will get worse | CNN
• ‘Wonderful’ Dad and His 3 Kids Found Dead Inside Submerged Car (people.com)

The truly unfortunate reality is that experts and the media persist in recommending the adoption of tools for cutting seatbelts and breaking car windows.? Handy those these devices may be they are not always ready to hand or front of mind in an emergency.? And, unfortunately, laminated vehicle glass will defeat the window breaking devices.

A solution such as that offered by AWOS Technologies is necessary.? Closer scrutiny from NHTSA is necessary.? Voluntary or mandated adoption is necessary.

For some reason, many industry experts don’t believe that safety sells cars.? The reality is that consumers surveyed by TechInsights in China, North America, and Europe prioritize safety above most other concerns when making their vehicle selection.

Still, regulatory guidance helps – as does regulatory endorsement.? At least two NCAP authorities have already recognized the problem and advised solving it.? It’s not too late for NHTSA to step up.? Some statistics simply cannot and should not be ignored.