What is the right course of action now?

In a tunnel, you must not stay in the vehicle and “wait it out” if there is an accident/fire risk. The rule of thumb in Germany is: if there’s smoke, fire, or a serious incident in a tunnel, leaving the danger area has priority over comfort or protecting the car.

Answer 1 is correct because you should leave the ignition key or transponder behind so emergency services can move the vehicle if necessary (for example, to clear a lane, create access for rescue vehicles, or prevent further danger). Taking the key with you can block rescue operations.

Answer 2 is correct because you should evacuate the tunnel via the emergency exit. In tunnels, emergency exits lead to a protected escape route and reduce the risk from smoke inhalation, fire spread, and secondary crashes.

Answer 3 is wrong because waiting in the vehicle keeps you in the most dangerous place: inside a confined space where smoke and toxic gases can build up quickly, visibility drops, and other vehicles may collide into the queue. Even if the crash seems “manageable,” in tunnels the situation can escalate fast, so the safe standard action is to evacuate.