There has been quite a lot of interest in the new Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius hybrid-powered cars.
But did you realise that if such a vehicle is involved in a crash, it can pose a deadly risk to rescuers? The cars contain a network of high voltage cables (500V), which run through the doors – often cut open if people have been trapped inside. In the USA, rescue services are now being trained to cut open the roof, rather than the doors and wear rubber boots and gloves when releasing victims from hybrid vehicles.
