Man, I feel like I am back in freshman physics.

OK. Force equals mass times acceleration, see, and....... Oh, forget it. If you did jump, you will only be meeting the TOP of the cab all that much faster. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Elevators today, be they traction or hydraulic, have built in brakes. Even if the cables on a traction system are cut, they will stop. This has been the case since WWII, I believe. I'd have to go and look at the Elevator Code to be sure. (Yes, there is such a thing ? ASME a17.1)

People recently have been killed by elevators. Notice I said BY, and not IN. Mostly, they have been thrill-seekers or pranksters. Riding atop elevators ("elevator surfing"), exploring the elevator pit on a dare, or stopping the elevator between floors and opening the doors are simply tickets to the Darwin Awards, IMHO. I do recall an incident recently where an elevator broke down between floors. During the evacuation of the people inside, the cab?s brakes slipped and killed one of the occupants as he was climbing out. Sliced in half. Not pretty. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> But, such incidents are very, very rare.

Now, let?s see if we can get some comments on what to do if you are trapped in an elevator. (Hint: that Spark-Lite won't be too handy?. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Though, a window squegee just might.)

?..CLIFF