Ameren Illinois offers power line safety tips during National Teen Driver Safety Week

ILLINOIS (WMBD) – This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week. Ameren Illinois reminds teen drivers of the critically important, life-saving protocol when dealing with power lines.

Some of the biggest dangers to teen drivers include alcohol, wearing a seatbelt and speeding, but there is one danger that isn’t talked about nearly enough. This is what you can do if you hit a power line and it falls on your car.

The Illinois Department of Transportation estimates that drivers in Illinois hit a power line about 3,000 times a year.

Ameren says no matter what type of pole you hit, you should stay in your car until help arrives. Wires in a power line can be live, and as soon as the driver touches the car to the ground, an electric shock can occur.

“Most people’s instinct is to get out of the car and assess the damage,” said Brian Bretsch, spokesman for Ameren Illinois. “If the line is live, as soon as you open the door and put your foot on the floor, you will make your way to earth and get electrocuted.”

Ameren says they met with more than 150 driving instructors across the state and asked if power line protocol would be taught to the classes. The answers varied between “No” and “The material we use is outdated.”

“The world of utilities is a world where not many people know about it,” Bretsch said. “You see power lines all the time and never know how much electricity is flowing through them.”

If you hit a power line, the following steps could save your life

1. Stay in the vehicle and assume that all cables on the vehicle are live.

2. Call 9-1-1 and wait for a professional line monitor to tell you that the lines are dead and it is safe to exit the car.

3. If necessary, remind people nearby to maintain a minimum distance of 15 meters to keep them away from the potentially live zone. Roll down the window and tell them.

Ameren Illinois has a free safety video that anyone can view during driver education or a safety course.

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