HOW TO DEAL WITH AN EMERGENCY IN A TUNNEL by N332 Insure
We hope you are never involved in any kind of emergency situation on the roads, but if you are, it is important that you act appropriately to try to ensure the safety of everyone, and one area which often causes concerns is how to deal with emergencies in tunnels.
The first thing to do, wherever the emergency might be, is to remain calm, and then assess the situation before acting. Then, protect yourself, protect the scene, and then call for help.
Tunnels of some length will have pedestrian exits and help points which are for use in emergencies only. The exits are indicated by the universal emergency exit signs of a pictogram of a figure about to leave a door, and often accompanied by the words “Salida” or “Salida de Emergencia”.
The location of the closest emergency point is indicated by arrows on the wall of the tunnel. In the event of an emergency access point being in both directions, often a larger arrow will indicate the direction to the nearest emergency point or exit, which may be in front or behind.
In the event of being involved in an emergency in a tunnel, you must:
Switch off the engine, switch on emergency hazard lights and leave your vehicle lights on.
If the emergency makes it impossible for the vehicle to continue, try to steer the vehicle to the area reserved for emergencies in the direction of travel, such as the hard shoulder if available, or an emergency layby. In the absence of these features, you must try to stop your vehicle as close as possible to the right side of the edge of the roadway.
Use your emergency warning light, the V-16, or triangles in some cases to indicate your vehicle is creating a hazard.
All vehicle occupants must leave the vehicle and proceed to the nearest evacuation emergency exit.
In case of fire, the driver must make every effort to ensure vehicles do not block the path of the emergency vehicles attending. Turn off the ignition, leaving the key, and leaving the doors open. All vehicle occupants must leave by the nearest available exit in the opposite direction to the fire.
Remember, when everyone is in a safe location should you call for help, which can be done at the SOS emergency phones, where your location will be immediately recorded.
N332 Insure is your reliable insurance introducer that connects you with the top insurance companies in Spain. We are dedicated to helping you find the best insurance policies tailored to your specific needs and budget.
At N332 Insure, we understand that finding the right insurance policy can be a daunting and time-consuming task. That's why we have simplified the process by offering a hassle-free service that allows you to compare different policies from leading insurers in Spain.
