> In the absence of outside input [...] People that drove a mile in the wrong direction are still already in a car moving and able to change direction and cover

> In the absence of outside input [...] People that drove a mile in the wrong direction are still already in a car moving and able to change direction and cover substantial ground quickly. In the absence of outside input, driving can just as easily be more dangerous than staying where you are. I'll quote this from the Wikipedia article of the June 2017 wildfires in Portugal: > The majority of deaths took place in the Pedrógão Grande municipality, when a fire swept across a road filled with evacuees escaping in their cars. > 47 people died in or near their cars when a fire overtook the area; 30 people died while trapped in their vehicles while the other 17 died nearby trying to escape on foot. It is suspected that they could have died from smoke inhalation rather than from the subsequent burn. But it is clear that many, if not all of them, could have survived if they hadn't tried to escape by car, because those who didn't try to escape did survive, and many of the houses were actually unaffected. But yes, it could have easily been the opposite, as it happened in the same wildfire on another municipality. And I would say it's quite possible that, in the absence of outside input, trying to escape by car could give you the greatest chances of surviving in most circumstances. But I'm not an expert so I really can't say that for sure. And I'm sure it would also depend on the geography, the roads, and where the fire is.