ANCAP to introduce vehicle submergence tests from 2023

The vehicle submergence testing will be part of ANCAP's Adult Occupant Protection Assessment area.

The Australian Independent Crash Testing authority (ANCAP) is said to introduce vehicle submergence testing from January 2023. The new criteria will be an extension to ANCAP's current rescue protocols, which assess vehicle accessibility after a crash.

Vehicle manufacturers will now have to provide evidence that passengers will be able to open doors & operate electric windows for up to 10 minutes after a vehicle has been submerged in water. This is to allow occupants to exit the vehicle safely.

If the windows or doors don't open, automakers are also required to provide a method which will allow occupants to safely break open the side window for escape. This information should be mentioned in the owner's manual.

The vehicle submergence testing will be part of ANCAP's Adult Occupant Protection Assessment area. The testing authority will also introduce new aspects in these tests to assess child presence detection systems. These systems will monitor the rear seats and doors to notify the driver or the emergency services if a child has been left in a locked car. The notifications will be indicated through visual and audible alerts, either via honking or by sending an alert to an app on the driver's phone.

Source: Car Expert