With more people drowning from driving in their cars than riding in a boat I wonder why the automobile industry hasn't thought to install some sort of floatation device to either float the car or at least for each occupant-i.e. the seats on airplanes.
2006-06-23 06:10:53 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
btw, I my question was brought on by my concern over all the people drowning in the Texas floods and flash floods all over. Not thinking about my personal safety as I feel I am pretty wise about what areas to avoid when driving.
2006-06-23 06:34:07 · update #1
That is an interesting thing that perhaps the auto makers haven't thought about. I hope they don't make it mandatory...I can't afford vehicles as they are. I'm from Idaho the state that had that child decapitated as an infant because the mom put them in the front seat and the air bag deployed. This is what created the laws that you can't have a child in the front seat. Ya...but back then they didn't know.
But then cars do float for a while and you can only get out of them once they are full of water to escape and open the doors perhaps more people would die because they were partially submersed and couldn't open the doors.
2006-06-26 15:26:21 · answer #1 · answered by sweetpea 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I guess I'll give an honest, straightforward response to this question...
There are no floatation devices in cars, for the same reason there are no bumpers on planes or parachutes on boats -- safety devices are used when there is a reasonable risk of a specific type of danger when the vehicle in question is used as intended.
If you are driving a car in a flash flood area, you shouldn't be thinking "gee, why doesn't my car have life jackets or some means of floating" -- you should be thinking "gee, why am I driving a car in a flash flood area, during the rainy season?"
Personal responsibility will get you quite far; relying on a corporation to put so many saftey devices in a car that you'll be protected from everything and anything -- and then charge you $140,000 for a Hyundai -- won't get you anywhere.
2006-06-23 06:39:12 · answer #2 · answered by daveowenville 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its called cost benefit analysis..
how many lives could you save with a floatation device?? Its not like youare gonna suddenly drive your car out from the ferri into the ocean or river ..
A floatation device would be useless when you are trapped inside your car!! you think people drown because they cant swim? noo..they drown because they are uncounsious.. or cant get out of their car
and to your second option, a car tha floats?? yea thats impossible or at least very cost inefficient.. do you know how well you would have to seal a car, and how much bouyancy you would need if it wasnt sealed?
I say .. dont drive your car into the lake
2006-06-23 06:16:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because, they are cars and not boats. The drivers should remember that! Don't drive thru high water and ride on the road, not the water. It's cheaper than making it the responsibility of the auto maker! AND, if a driver can't remember those two things...they shouldn't be operating a car in the first place!
2006-06-23 06:14:08 · answer #4 · answered by Linn E 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only ones drowning from driving are those idiots trying to drive their cars across raging flooded roads and rivers. I call that selective population control.
2006-06-23 06:12:36 · answer #5 · answered by kja63 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hun I'm not making fun of your idea..But it just is not practical.
And like some of the others anwsers have stated.. Alot of the people you see in the floods in cars. Don't have the since God gave a jar full of gum drops.......Most of them drove into the waters trying to get somewhere, when shouldn't have been out in the first place...
2006-06-23 09:17:23 · answer #6 · answered by Jerry S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's next? Since people are killed while running aground with boats, why don't we install wheels so they all can go on the freeways too. Maybe Wings on cars so they can fly over the car they are about to rear end. Hmmmm, what a great idea.
2006-06-23 06:16:03 · answer #7 · answered by Casual Traveler 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question its like the titanic they think all safety device are in tack till IT happens then they will look at the situation closer , look how long it took for seat belt and air bags to become law and motor cycle helmets , great question tho
2006-06-23 06:31:42 · answer #8 · answered by Mechanical 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A car was made in the sixtys that could be driven on roads or water.they didn't sell.they were small, ugly and slow.Personal flotation devices are available at any sporting goods store.Buy one and keep it in the back seat if your worried about looking at the seanery and ending up in it.
2006-06-23 06:24:43 · answer #9 · answered by thetdw 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well they assume you will never end up in the river however if you were to go into water allow the car to fill up with water to make the same pressure inside as outside and then simply open the door however the moment the car is filling up with water will be the scariest moment of your life thats for sure
2006-06-23 06:13:44 · answer #10 · answered by yamarider 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋