A Small Step in Vehicle Safety

Kinja'd!!! "Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
08/15/2016 at 21:43 • Filed to: SAFETY

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I always thought that you have to be pretty stupid to end up in a situation in which your vehicle would end up submerged. I still think that, just sympathetic to untimely deaths, maybe I’m softening up with age or going through a phase or something. Anyways, considering all the videos and articles I’m seeing of what people do while driving, I’m realizing that individual responsibility, preparedness, and common sense cannot be an expectation. Yeah, I’m definitely getting old.

I understand that only 400 people die in submerged vehicles annually, so it isn’t worth building cars that facilitate a higher survival rate in these situations. But considering all the other onroad scenarios in which a $4 window puncher and seatbelt cutter would save their lives, I just don’t think the emergency item should be left to consequence going into the next decade.

Since keyfobs are buried at the bottom of bags, I’m not sure keychains or even building them into the fobs will help those that need the most help. Plus the whole owning multiple cars and having many family members that I know wouldn’t buy some cheap piece of equipment and make sure they always have it one them. I’m also meh to the glove compartment since I’m not sure how accessible it is to shorter drivers, vehicles that are overturned or lying on the driver side door.

I’m thinking about having the driverside door armset being built to have a flip up or popout compartment with a tool as standard. This way occupant that is guaranteed to be inside the vehicle has it within reach no matter the situation, and it’s guaranteed to be in all vehicles (well, for first owners anyways).

I know, stupid thought. However I’m just in that kind of mood and think it would be great to be able to save children in the rearseats of vehicles. Mostly if you are the Samaritan, it may be a great thing to know that the driver side door armrest will have a compartment holding the tool that can cut a dazed driver out of the vehicle or their passengers. Or maybe you’re a passenger and can go for that compartment. I don’t know, my brain is all over the place, it’s late, and I’ve worked 23 eight hour days in a row. Fatigue is a growing factor in most auto accidents now. Mmm, tangents. Just seems like too important of a tool to leave people with the responsibility of having in all their vehicles, ya know?

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DISCUSSION (25)


Kinja'd!!! Matt Nichelson > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 21:47

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That picture gives me a case of the sads.


Kinja'd!!! tacogx > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 21:50

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you can also use the metal bottom parts of the headrests once you take them out.


Kinja'd!!! Wobbles the Mind > Matt Nichelson
08/15/2016 at 21:52

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I know, I couldn’t believe it! I didn’t cry for Jack and the Titanic, but right now...


Kinja'd!!! E92M3 > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 21:54

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Another excuse to carry a gun if you ask me....

Carjack? Check!

Road Rage Crazy Person? Check!

Submerged Vehicle? Check!


Kinja'd!!! Matt Nichelson > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 21:55

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Kinja'd!!! zedx > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 21:57

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I wonder if auto manufacturers could implement a “submerge” sensor that would detect water within the cabin above a certain height. It could automatically crack open all windows and unlatch the seat belts to allow the occupant a chance to escape?


Kinja'd!!! Wobbles the Mind > tacogx
08/15/2016 at 21:57

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But doesn’t get the seatbelts off if the occupant and airbags are blocking the release. I want us to think of something that allows any passenger or a heroic onlooker to know there is a tool that can allow them to assist even if they don’t have anything on them. Maybe a compartment inside the driver headrest with the seatbelt cutter attached. I’m thinking if someone is dazed or freaking out.


Kinja'd!!! Bourbon&JellyBeans > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 21:59

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“I always thought that you have to be pretty stupid to end up in a situation in which your vehicle would end up submerged.”

Well, you would think, but there is always this story...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/20/car…


Kinja'd!!! Wobbles the Mind > E92M3
08/15/2016 at 22:00

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The tool is cheaper than having automakers provide a safety pistol. Though I’d check that option before heated rear seats any day.


Kinja'd!!! The Lurktastic Opponaught > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 22:01

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There’s another issue at play here. Repetitive training and practical drills are key to being able to respond effectively in high stress life safety situations. I spent 6 years as a volunteer fire fighter, and I can attest that the average driver is going to be incapable of tool retrieval and use following a moderate to severe colission. Shock is a very real thing.


Kinja'd!!! Birddog > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 22:03

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I didn’t submerge it but about 2 years ago I ran a Chevy Express work van through a Flash Flood on suburban streets in Davenport. (not intentionally) It was the most frightening 15 seconds I’ve ever experienced behind the controls of ANY vehicle. I had that truck in low, foot to the floor and was barely moving. I was probably moving sideways more than forward.

People don’t understand Water. Or they’re too dumb to respect it.


Kinja'd!!! Wobbles the Mind > zedx
08/15/2016 at 22:05

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I was thinking along those lines for Volvo especially. But I don’t think any automaker would bother with that kind of R&D since 400 deadly incidents annually (and most aren’t in new cars) isn’t enough to warrant any financial incentive to save those lives. Sad to say it that way but true. We need a “shocking” number of those deaths to occur in a new-ish vehicle, even better if it’s the same makes.


Kinja'd!!! Wobbles the Mind > Birddog
08/15/2016 at 22:07

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Yep, I think people underestimate how quickly water enters and fills a vehicle and how frightening the temperature and loss of control over a situation is for most. I bet it takes 30 seconds for some to come to terms that the vehicle is lost and they need to save themselves.


Kinja'd!!! Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 22:08

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I keep a knife in the console that is quite sharp, and has seat belt cutter and window breaker. If I am in PA, I also have a Ruger. Think I’m set lol


Kinja'd!!! Wobbles the Mind > The Lurktastic Opponaught
08/15/2016 at 22:10

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I was thinking that too as I was writing. I’m sort of wanting a tool to be available to anyone that is or can get inside the vehicle but I’m not thinking of a spot that allows for the most survival while only needing ONE of the tools (which I think is the key for this to even be considered).


Kinja'd!!! JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 22:11

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Make selection natural again!


Kinja'd!!! Wobbles the Mind > Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ
08/15/2016 at 22:13

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I like the tools a lot. I just don’t think people will buy enough to keep in every vehicle they own. Plus fobs and garage parking have made it so that many don’t even touch their keys for the keychains to be as practical as they once were.


Kinja'd!!! The Lurktastic Opponaught > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 22:13

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Yeah. I like the submersion sensor and seatbelt disconnect idea. I wonder what sort of accelerometer based sensing and response system would be necessary to decide when to activate the safety features.


Kinja'd!!! Wobbles the Mind > The Lurktastic Opponaught
08/15/2016 at 22:16

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I almost feel like the SOS services in cars (Onstar, Bluelink, etc.) will end up having some kind of control over this stuff as well. I’ve been forseeing these services becoming the new marketed safety and insurance feature.


Kinja'd!!! Chasaboo > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 22:22

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Darwin in the house!


Kinja'd!!! gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 22:27

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I think one industry has it down how to create a sensitive water sensor.


Kinja'd!!! tacogx > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 22:37

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Very true


Kinja'd!!! facw > Wobbles the Mind
08/15/2016 at 23:10

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One thing to be careful of is that apparently a lot of those rescue hammers don’t actually work. For example:


Kinja'd!!! E92M3 > Wobbles the Mind
08/16/2016 at 00:16

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I meant for owners to purchase themselves. No manufactuer is going to install anything that could injure a person so easily. Guns are useful around the house too.

On second thought though our hunters safety classes aren’t much better than our driver education is. Not to mention a large percentage of our population is not mentally stable enough to be allowed own your hammer thingy. In imagine it would be less than a week before we saw a news story about some woman killing her cheating husband while driving 65 mph with one, or her screaming baby.


Kinja'd!!! RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Wobbles the Mind
08/16/2016 at 09:38

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I keep one of those in my center console at all times.