Unexpected fire: Break the window to escape, roll to put out the fire
If the car suddenly catches fire while driving, the driver should immediately turn off the engine, cut off the fuel and power supply, close the blinds and ignition switch, and then quickly organize the evacuation of all occupants from the vehicle. If the vehicle has been deformed due to a collision and the doors cannot be opened, escape through the front or rear windshield or windows.
If your body catches fire, roll toward a water source while taking off your clothes, being careful to protect any exposed skin and hair. Do not take deep breaths or shout loudly, as this may burn your upper respiratory tract. After leaving the car, don’t rush to remove clothing stuck to burned skin. For large burns, use clean cloth or towels to wrap the area, and drink water or other beverages if possible. Meanwhile, uninjured individuals should quickly use a fire extinguisher, sand, clothing, or tarp to smother the flames—but never use water to put out the fire.
Car rollover: Hook your feet on the pedals and roll with the car
When the driver feels that a rollover is unavoidable, they should grip the steering wheel tightly, hook their feet on the pedals to secure their body, and roll with the vehicle. If the vehicle rolls into a roadside ditch or near a cliff, assess whether it will continue to roll. If uncertain, maintain order inside the car, allowing those closest to the outer edge of the cliff to exit first, moving from the outside in. Otherwise, a shift in the vehicle’s center of gravity may cause it to roll further.
If the vehicle is rolling into a deep ditch, everyone should quickly lie down on the seats, grab hold of fixed objects inside the car, and stabilize their bodies to avoid injury from rolling around. When the car is overturning, do not jump out in the direction of the roll—you risk being crushed by the vehicle. Instead, jump in the opposite direction of the roll. If you feel you’re about to be thrown from the vehicle, forcefully kick your legs at the moment of ejection to increase your distance from the danger zone. Upon landing, cover your head with both hands and roll or run in the direction of the inertia to avoid secondary injuries.
If the vehicle's brakes fail while driving, passengers must never jump out blindly. The driver will likely downshift to reduce speed, and if that fails, may steer the vehicle toward a hillside, even scraping the car body against it if necessary. Therefore, passengers should hold onto fixed objects inside the car to minimize injury.
Vehicle submerged in water: Take a deep breath before opening the door
If your car rolls into a river and the water is shallow and hasn't fully submerged the vehicle, wait until the car settles before trying to exit safely. If the water is deep, do not rush to open the doors or windows, as they may be difficult to open. At this point, there is enough oxygen in the cabin to last the driver and passengers for 5 to 10 minutes. Keep your head above water, take a deep breath, and then push the door open forcefully or break the glass to escape. If the vehicle hasn’t completely sunk, you can break the sunroof and escape through it if available.
If no one is on shore to help, try to float on your back with your body straight and your head tilted back so your mouth and nose remain above water to keep breathing. For buses or vehicles carrying children, people can hold hands, hold onto clothing, or interlock feet to form a human chain to escape together.
Head-on collision: Straighten your legs and lean your body back
In a traffic accident involving a head-on collision, the driver is usually at the greatest risk of fatal injury. When such an accident occurs and the main impact is not on the driver’s side, the driver should grip the steering wheel firmly, extend their legs straight forward, and lean their body backward to maintain balance—this helps prevent the head from hitting the windshield upon impact. If the main impact is near the driver’s seat or the collision is severe, the driver should quickly move away from the steering wheel and lift their legs to avoid being crushed.