I recently finished some training where I learned how to safely exit an aircraft submerged underwater, upside down, while buckled in and blindfolded (yeah, I know, the things I do for a living...) and it got me thinking about this... What do we know about getting out of the Prius in an emergency? Being submerged underwater is unlikely but not unheard of... think back to the bridge collapse in Minneapolis. There are other reasons you might need to escape the vehicle too besides just going into water. This probably requires a lot of speculation, but here are a few questions... 1) How fast do we anticipate the Prius might fill with water when submerged? 2) What is the likelihood of the power windows still functioning under those conditions? 3) Does the rear hatch open from the inside? 4) How easy would it be to unbuckle the seatbelt and get out in the event of an airbag deployment? Maybe you guys can think of more. Should be an interesting discussion. Tim
Mythbusters did a series on escaping from a car and they recommended a glass punch tool. You push it against the safety glass and it shatters into small bits (keep your eyes closed) and the window is gone. Then you can either leave by the window or open the door and leave. Bob Wilson
What Bob said. Even if you could easily open the rear hatch from inside (it can be opened, but it's not easy and you have to remove a panel--but it can be done), you could never open it in a submerged vehicle situation. I think it would take a long time for the car to fill with water. The seat belt is easy to undo--airbag deployed or not. Remember that the airbag deflates almost immediately after inflation so it will not be in your way or anything. Also, I saw that mythbusters episode. And after you break the glass you really have to just hold your breath and let the car fill before trying to swim out--the force of water coming in is too much to resist. Finally, you may well be able to just put the window down in many cases to allow the car to fill then open the door or swim out.
This is a good point. I'll share a related point from my training... Don't unbuckle until you have a good grip on something, preferably the window frame after you break it or roll it down. Otherwise the force of water coming in could wash you to the other side of the car or toward the back of the vehicle. And once you get a hold of something, never let go until your other hand has a hold of something else. This is also important because it could be dark underwater and you may be moving around entirely by feel. Tim
Could an old spark plug be used as a window punch? Seems like the low-life car window breakers use them to smash and grab from cars. BTW: How long till a Prius fills with water? The old VW bug seemed to float awhile! Lee
It's rather hard to comment when 99% of the outcome is determined by the driver and situation, not the vehicle. There sure are a lot of people that have trouble getting out of the car normally in the parking lot. I don't really see any significant difference between a Prius and any other similar vehicle. I do remember Volkswagen ads that showed the VW bug sinking vastly slower than any other car, but thats the only time I've seen a manufacturer show something along those lines.
People in this area carry punch tools. You don't need a collapsed bridge to drown in a car around here. It happens with some regularity. A few years ago a doctor we know died this way. She and her daughter and two of her daughter's friends were on their way to a dance recital, and she turned one street too soon. The street she turned on dead ended into an inland lake, with very little notice. By the time she saw the end of the road it was too late. Her Volvo (or was it a Saab?) went out into the water and sank. The auto-lock doors kept them from opening the doors, and the power windows wouldn't open. Here is a link from the LA Times: Michigan Woman, 3 Girls Drown in Lake After Making Wrong Turn - Los Angeles Times and another link from the local paper: 'Tragedy' claims four lives Tom
Submerged, I don't think a Prius has any advantage or disadvantage, compared to any other vehicle with power locks/windows
Perhaps Mythbusters would want to take it on as a challenge. With the added threat of high voltage in the Prius it would make for juicy teaser adds to promote the episode! I think I'm going to get one of those combination window punch / seat belt cutter tools I have seen in catalogues... they might be handy for other things too! Lee
