It's been a while since I've rented a car. But I recall the vendor providing a short instruction sheet. Included on the list was instructions that one should get familiar with the location and nature of the auto's mechanisms (light switches, wipers, etc.) I naturally do this now as part of a routine.

Without knowing the particulars of the rental company's procedure, it's entirely possible that they didn't even offer this basic level instructions. What if the driver did not even know there was water in the car? A short paragraph on what to do in case of a breakdown in the dessert could save lives and is not unreasonable to require car rental companies in the area to include some sort of information in advance of releasing the vehicle.

I find it odd how we can suggest putting a cheat sheet in our PSK with the though, in part, that we may be unconscious and an ignorant stranger may be able to follow some simple instructions to save opur lives. But then resist the notion that governments should regulate a sector of business to do the same. Plus we are quick to judge the poor sole who was too ingnorant to know better to stay with the car. The fact is, we are all ignorant on certain matters. We strive to educate ourselves in ways to equip ourselves to survive, both with equipment and with knowledge. This poor sole obviously did not. Frankly, with the gear restrictions associated with travel these days, I would appreciate a significant survival kit in a rental car along with instructions on how and when the kit should be used, especially in a vast ocean of sand (a.k.a., dessert). In some respects, it's not too different from requiring life boats and related equipment on boats.