Auto Safety: Preventing Submersion Deaths
Their minivan was discovered on a Sunday morning. A scant 12 hours before they were an active, vibrant family that loved life – and lived it to its fullest. Now they’re dead, the victims not of a drunk or drugged driver, but of a vehicle submersion accident.
Tasha Elliott, the principal of an elementary school, her husband, Kevin, along with their two children, 11 year-old Wyatt and 7 year-old Madison, didn’t die as a result of injuries sustained in a devastating high speed car crash, but because they couldn’t get out of their vehicle when it submerged in a pond.
In the U.S., we have just about every conceivable vehicle safety innovation at our disposal, from curtain side air bags to collision avoidance systems – and more. While these life-saving devices have added thousands of dollars to the price of a new vehicle, they have been credited with saving tens of thousands of lives. Unfortunately, one safety device that potentially could have saved the lives of the Elliott’s and the estimated 300 to 500 just like them who die every year in vehicle submersion accidents, isn’t required equipment on any vehicle. As a matter of fact, it’s not even available to the general public.
A number of years ago a company called Egression Technologies invented a simple, cost-effective device that could help people to escape from a submerged vehicle, when each passing second dramatically reduces one’s chance of survival. The device, called the Escape Tip, is a modified male end of a seatbelt, sometimes referred to as a latch plate, that can cause breakage of a vehicle’s side window glass every time it’s correctly used for that purpose. At this point, neither the auto industry nor government safety regulators seem interested in utilizing it – but they may not be aware of the magnitude of this problem. This tool isn’t rocket science. It’s a small tungsten carbide-tipped device that costs almost nothing to produce.
When a vehicle submerges, it begins taking on water within just a few seconds. The occupants don’t have time to think, plan exit strategies, or attempt to locate a device that could enable them to escape. While there are a number of products on the market (think LifeHammer and similar products) that can do the job, the Escape Tip is a better overall solution for a variety of reasons:
• It forces removal of the seatbelt
• It’s located near every window
• It simplifies the escape process
• It has a very low production cost
• It puts a means of escape into the hands of all vehicle occupants
The established protocol for escaping a submerged vehicle is POGO (Pop Open door Get Out). If the vehicle is rapidly taking on water, the doors may be impossible to open. At the same time, if a passenger manages to get the door open, the sudden rush of incoming water could doom all of the other occupants to a watery grave. This device – or one like it – would at least give all vehicle occupants an equal chance of escape. In addition, in order to get out of the vehicle, all occupants must remove their seat belts anyway. The simple act of removing the seatbelt would put a means of breaking the window into the hands of all occupants. To me, this makes good sense.
While no system is infallible, this is a common sense approach that government and the auto industry should consider. We rely upon our government to mandate safety rules when industry fails to act. All vehicles are now equipped with an inside trunk release in the event that someone is inadvertently locked in the trunk. It didn’t happen very often, but when it did it usually resulted in death.
While I’m angry that nothing has been done – at this point – to stem the tide of vehicle submersion deaths, I realize that anger without action is a futile waste of energy. To be fair to the auto industry, they have been innovative in many areas when it comes to our safety, many times even taking the initiative by developing lifesaving technologies.
Industry has tried to address this issue; now I’m calling on automobile manufacturers to step up to the plate and put some of the greatest engineering minds in the world to work in seeking a viable, cost-effective solution to this problem.
If someone can develop a solution that will solve this problem, I’m all for it. Does it have to specifically be the Escape Tip? Not necessarily. If someone else has a better idea that addresses all of the escape and safety concerns I’ve identified, I’m all for it. Until then, I think it’s the best game in town, but I’m open to any and all solutions.
It’s conceivable that the auto industry isn’t aware of the magnitude of this problem. If it’s not, we can all do our part by bringing it to their attention. A problem cannot be solved until it’s been identified. If we collectively begin lobbying for a commonsense device like this by calling, writing, or emailing all vehicle manufacturers, perhaps the automobile industry will answer the call by giving us what we want. Many times the laws of supply and demand alone are enough to solve problems.
Government legislation isn’t always the best, most expedient solution to a problem and the tragic drowning deaths of motorists should be no different. If, however, the auto industry fails to act, I think government has every right to respond legislatively. The wheels of government can turn very slowly – and sometimes with good reason. In this case, however, I think government should take an active role in addressing this very real problem.
Hearings to explore the best way of addressing this problem would be a good start. Moreover, I think legislation could ultimately be an excellent strategy to reverse this problem. Maybe the time has come for the Tasha Elliott Vehicle Escape Act. If this is what it takes to dramatically reduce the number of people who meet such a tragic end, I’m all for it. Regardless of the ultimate solution, I think special effort should be made to ensure that costs are kept to a minimum and that the technology be mandatory – and identical across all product lines – as in the case of the seatbelt. In addition, I think simplicity should be at the heart of any solution implemented.
The problem of vehicle submersion deaths may not seem like a problem worthy of government intervention, because only 300 to 500 people per year die in this fashion. However, when you break down the numbers, one person every 30 hours drowns inside a submerged motor vehicle. Since 1960, about 20,000 people have perished.
Would the implementation of a new federal regulation or Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard do much to save lives – and if so, how many would be saved? That’s unclear; what is clear, however, is that giving victims a simple tool with easy to remember instructions would be a dramatic improvement over the system currently in place. It would give victims like Tasha Elliott and her family a fighting chance.
She wasn’t just an anonymous face in a crowd of 20,000 drowning victims. She was also the beloved principal of an elementary school in west-central Illinois. Her death left a community stunned and hundreds of children confused about how a minor accident could forever, indelibly mar their earliest childhood memories.
Instead of collectively shrugging our shoulders, shaking our heads and doing nothing, we can all work together today to ensure that yesterday’s victims did not die in vain. There’s no better way I can think of that we can honor their memories than by preventing senseless tragedies like these from happening again tomorrow.
Be safe,
Kenneth Speegle
Share this article
Tell a friend
elliots friend said
am March 30 2008 @ 12:00 pm
They were in a 2 dr dodge avenger not a minivan
safety issues said
am March 30 2008 @ 12:01 pm
Thank you for information. Communicating with the author.
Kenneth Speegle said
am March 30 2008 @ 12:06 pm
I regret my error in mis-stating the type of vehicle the Elliott’s were driving at the time of their tragic accident. My condolences to you on your loss.
This mistake doesn’t change the reality of what has happened, nor does it impact the importance of the need for industry, automakers, government safety officials and the general public in working together to devise a vehicle safety mechanism — and effective legislation — to reduce the number of people who die in this fashion every year.
While no amount of regulation or innovation can bring back those who have lost their lives so tragically, it will make it possible for many future victims to emerge from the water with tales of their close call — which is a worthy goal.
Again, my apologies.
Concerned said
am May 3 2008 @ 11:06 am
Recent facts- both were legally drunk. Their drinking killed their children.
smsi said
am May 3 2008 @ 6:32 pm
Oh! this fact is horrifying. What examples are principal, teachers and educated people are supposed to set for children! Remember and follow the message:
DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.
Kenneth Speegle said
am May 6 2008 @ 11:48 am
The recent comments by “Concerned” and “SMSI” are both correct.
Mr. and Mrs. Elliott were indeed both legally drunk at the time of this unfortunate incident. While it’s unclear which of the two was driving that fateful night, what is known (by way of autopsies, toxicology testing, a full investigation by law enforcement, and a Coroner’s Inquest) is that Mr. Elliott had a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level of .165 and Mrs. Elliott’s BAC level was .209. The threshold in Illinois for legal intoxication is .08.
What is less clear is whether driving conditions at the time of this incident (very foggy, ice-covered roadway on a dark and unfamiliar road) played a larger role in what happened than the presence of alcohol in their systems. Regardless, the alcohol was probably a contributing factor and was absolutely an aggravating factor.
“SMSI” is also correct. The best way to eliminate the chance of driving under the influence of alcohol is to never climb behind the wheel after drinking.
It’s a simple lesson, but one that needs to be driven home with a hammer: Never drink and drive.
Danniel said
am May 6 2008 @ 11:58 am
“Do not drink and drive” and “Do not let drink and drive!”
Kenneth Speegle said
am May 6 2008 @ 12:33 pm
Danniel stated it in clear language: Don’t drink and drive — or allow others to do so.
Sanjay M. Shah said
am June 11 2009 @ 6:41 am
Sub : – Avoid Accident by changing combination Switch.
There are so many brands vehicles are available in India & it’s grate adventure for us. In these vehicles some vehicles are having combination switch right side wiper & left side head light switch which is not suitable for our right side driving lane due to right side steering. While running the vehicle if some one is crossing from our vehicle we are operate first flesh light by combination switch & then after controlled by gear to stop or control vehicle. It is difficult to operate both ( i.e. Gare & Combination Switch light ) by left hand during the driving hence there will more chance to happening of accident.
While argument with dealer of vehicle for this matter they are say this is foreign technology but they are not think that this technology is completely suitable for left hand drive vehicles.
Dear Sir if your honor will think for this matter and take suitable action for changing by combination switch from right side wiper & left side head light switch to Right side Head light Switch & left side Wiper switch there are so many life can save by only this minor change. Please do the needful and avoid my over written matter.
Thanking You.
Yours Faithfully.
Sanjay M. Shah. ( Mo.No. 9987609999 ).
India. Mumbai.
arpangroup@yahoo.com
arpangroup@hotmai.com
Paul Glassen said
am November 5 2009 @ 2:05 pm
The alcohol abuse of the parents, including the driver, in the article’s example does not change the issue of submersion escape. Today’s news (Nov. 5, 2009) has an article about three young women athletes who drowned inside their vehicle in just 3 metres of water. Contributing to their drowning was that instead of acting promply to open windows for an escape route, they were on their cell phones calling for help.
joyce said
am May 13 2010 @ 3:02 pm
Man,
That is so sad!!
I know to many people that have been killed in a car reck.
We need to be more careful!!
Andrew Pitt said
am March 22 2011 @ 3:57 am
I too am shocked and saddened that this device, or a device similar to it isn’t a standard piece of required auto-safety equipment. While the numbers of people killed each year may not be huge statistically, when you reflect how simple it would have been to save those lives the figure is inexcusable.
DONNA UZZI said
am April 15 2011 @ 7:41 pm
My son died 17 months ago today in a vehicle that was upside down in a canal. The only survivor was a boy NOT wearing his seatbelt. I am shocked to find that there is no information on these type of deaths. I have been teaching the kids about the ResQMe tools and why its important, but its just me it seems. So much focus in on seatbelts, texting, talking on the phone etc. there must be some room to include this in the drivers education systems. Also, how to get out of your seatbelt if you are upside down and it wont unlatch. why is it that nobody focuses on this???????? Something needs to change!!!
Safety Products said
am April 16 2011 @ 10:40 am
Here are the proper tools to save life / lives in such an emergency situation. Go to URL http://www.safetyissues.com/products and search for ResQme tools in Automotive category. There are many worth buying tools to save you, your family and friends.
ResQme said
am April 16 2011 @ 11:00 am
Try Clicking on my name above to see the proper tools to save life and escape from a vehicle.
DONNA UZZI said
am April 16 2011 @ 3:46 pm
I know about those safety tools and I teach everyone about them and provide a way to order them. However, it cant be just me and my THINK team educating the public. Why are there no statistics of these types of deaths, why isnt the government looking into the ability (or lack of) getting out of your seatbelt if you are upside down and your weight is preventing the seatbelt from unlatching. Seems like they take water vehicles deaths at face value and not looking beyond surface. But I dont know where to go, or what to do, for someone to recognize this. Does anyone know???????
Suboxone Abuse said
am August 18 2011 @ 7:45 am
always be safe . i am really like this post .great stuff. Thank you for share this great stuff. I am very enjoyed for this side
Heroin Addiction said
am August 28 2011 @ 11:34 pm
Hello everybody i am new in this site but this blog site satisfied my all need as well as option i search.