Experts are urging drivers to recognize three specific signs that indicate a vehicle is about to be submerged during heavy rainfall [1].
Quick recognition of these warnings is critical because water entering a vehicle can cause the engine to stop and lock doors. These conditions significantly increase the risk of drowning if the driver does not exit the vehicle immediately [4, 5].
Jun Abe, a director of the Society for Water Rescue, and the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) identified the warning signs to help drivers decide when to abandon their cars [1, 2]. The guidance focuses on sudden weather events, such as guerrilla rainstorms or typhoons, that cause rapid flooding on roads and bridges [3].
JAF provided three specific escape points to guide drivers toward safety [2]. The organization said that waiting too long to exit can make rescue efforts impossible once the water level rises above the door frames.
The experts said that drivers should not attempt to push through flooded areas. Instead, they should prioritize moving to higher ground as soon as the identified signs appear [1, 2].
Water pressure can make it nearly impossible to open car doors once a vehicle is partially submerged. By identifying the three signs early, drivers can exit the vehicle while the doors still function, and the surrounding water is shallow enough to navigate [4, 5].
“Water entering a vehicle can cause the engine to stop and lock doors.”
As extreme weather events like guerrilla rainstorms become more frequent, the ability to make split-second decisions during flooding is a vital survival skill. The emphasis on specific 'signs' suggests that many drivers currently underestimate the speed at which a vehicle becomes a trap, highlighting a gap in public safety awareness regarding aquatic entrapment.
