Wires Fall on Your Car… What Do You Do?

You swerve to avoid a deer in the road and end up striking a utility pole. Next thing you know, wires have fallen and landed on your car.

What do you do?

Thanks to the efforts of BGE and the Anne Arundel County Fire and Police Departments, more than 100 BGE participants in the company’s annual Severe Impact Storm Drill were treated to a live demonstration of what to do if this occurs.

A mock live wire and broken wire were placed on a smashed car containing a lifelike dummy. At the start of the demo, police arrived to secure the scene, BGE deenergized the wires, and the fire department removed the roof of the car to rescue the trapped occupant.

Viewers learned the following steps to take to stay safe:

Never touch a wire on your car or on the ground.

If your vehicle is operable, DO NOT TOUCH THE WIRE, and drive until you are clear of the wires.

If your vehicle is inoperable, do not exit or reach outside your vehicle. If your safety is threatened (fire, flood, etc.) and you must exit the vehicle:

• Exit the vehicle from a door as far away from the wire as possible.
• Jump out of the vehicle to clear it) and skip (do not walk) to a location as far away from the car is possible.
• When first responders or BGE arrives on the scene, always follow instructions.

Also, if you see a wire on the ground, always assume it is energized. Even if it is still, electricity could be running through the wire.