KNOW BEFORE: Auto accidents and downed power lines

If you end up in a car accident with downed power lines all around you, your next move could be a matter of life or death.

In accidents with power poles, it is likely the pole and power lines might fall on your car or nearby. This could energize the area around your car with electricity. 

There is no reliable way to tell, just by looking at it, whether a power line is live or not. Sometimes downed lines will show they are live by arcing and sparking with electricity. But this is not always the case. So if you step out of the car, your body could become the path to ground for the electricity, which could be deadly. 

Here are five rules to follow if you are in a car accident involving downed power lines: 

  1. Stay in the car. That is the safest place unless there is a fire or imminent risk of fire. 
  2. Call 911 for help and wait until a professional from the electric utility tells you it is safe to leave the car. 
  3. Warn those who try to help by approaching your vehicle that they must stay far away. 
  4. In case of fire, jump clear of the vehicle without touching it and the ground simultaneously. Then hop away  with feet together until you are at least 30 feet from the wires. That way, there will not be a voltage difference between your feet, which would give electricity the chance to flow through your body. 
  5. If you witness a car collision with a power pole, do not approach the accident. By trying to help, you could put your own life at risk. Stay far away, call 911, and warn others on scene to keep their distance as well.

A collision involving power lines can turn an already dangerous situation into a life-threatening emergency. Knowing what to do before an accident happens can help protect you, your passengers, and those who may stop to help. A few moments of caution can make the difference between a close call and a tragic outcome.