Is is estimated that every year 1250 to 1500 vehicles fall in the water in the netherlands. In these accidents approximately 90 vehicle occupants are fatally injured; the majority of them die from drowning. Though this number is but a small percentage of the total number of people fatally injured in road traffic accidents, the ratio of fatalities to the number of accidents caused by motorcars falling in the water is fairly high compared to all traffic accidents. Research has proved that 1) the most effective method of reducing the number of fatalities in this type of accident is to take measures for preventing cars from falling in the water; 2) an escape from a vehicle which is submerged can be made in different ways during the period when the vehicle is floating; this period may vary from a few seconds to two or three minutes; 3) the construction and equipment of the vehicle influence the chances of escape; 4) the use of safety belts helps to reduce the seriousness of injuries sustained in an accident and increases the possibility of escaping; 5) the moment the vehicle is completely submerged and comes to rest at the bottom there is very rarely any air bubble inside it. See also irrd abstract no. 61558.
Samenvatting