The loss of life of civilians in vehicles during bushfires in Australia has been of concern for several decades. Preventable deaths related to vehicles used in untimely evacuation or travel have occurred with regular frequency. While it is understood that a range of factors can contribute to such fatalities, currently there is insufficient understanding of the subject of vehicle occupant behaviour during a bushfire and clear practices need to be recommended when faced with this situation. In 2006, the federal fire authority and the Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC), working together with CSIRO, sanctioning the document “Guidance for people in vehicles during bushfires”( 1 AFAC,2006). Th is provided clear advice on the most appropriate actions to take if caught in a vehicle during a passing fire front given current understanding. However a number of points of advice were not back by clear scientific observation and there were several uncertainties on protective actions taken by occupants e.g. air conditioning on or off, orientation of car to fire -front, effectiveness seeking protection under woollen blanket? These uncertainties were investigated in full -scale experiments where used cars (generally 10-20 years old) were exposed to simulated burn-over conditions with a Liquid Propane Flame Front Simulator. Key observations are found in the conclusion. • Using a woollen blanket to shelter under in the front seat of a vehicle reduces exposure to toxic gases, while staying below the height of the windows is effective in protecting against radiation. For air temperature exposure staying below the blanket or as low as possible is the most effective strategy, if present operating an air conditioning system in recirculation mode does reduce temperature exposure without affective under blanket toxic levels. • The orientation of the car to the fire front significantly influenced internal cabin conditions and ultimate survivability during a burnover event. Facing the front of the car towards the approaching fire was better than side or rear orientation. • The vehicle should not be parked over dry fine fuels, the low level flame contact from these fuels can quickly cause untenable conditions • Thermoplastic body parts and the structural design features of a vehicle contribute to the loss of physical integrity of the vehicle envelope. With the more recent model vehicles performing worst. • Engine operation during the event did not result in a significant change in cabin tenability during the test program. But may improve the chances of vehicle operation after the burnover. • Direct flame contact from either the passing fire front or burning fuel located in the immediate area surrounding a vehicle will result in a n ear immediate exceedence of tenability.