If In an accident I drive off the road and find myself underwater how do I escape a watery grave?

mayorofsteveville2002

The first thing you should do once you realize you're going in the drink is roll your windows down, as many of them as you can. You want the car to fill with water. This sounds crazy, but otherwise you'll never be able to open your doors. Once you're submerged, the pressure from the water outside would be too great. Stay in until there's no more air bubble in the car. Hold your breath. Open the door and swim up to the surface. If you REALLY had time, take off your jeans and heavy shoes as they'd weigh you down a bit while trying to swim.

kbc10

Here are websites with some suggestions on this. It suggests: Drive with windows a crack open and doors unlocked if you're driving near water. If the car goes in -- Stay calm and act fast. Get out before the car goes underwater. 1. Disentangle yourself from the seatbelt. 2. If you've got a sunroof open it IMMEDIATELY as soon as the car hits the water -- it's big enough to escape through. 3. IMMEDIATELY open the windows to let water start coming in - do this right away (You won't be able to open the door till there's enough water inside the car for the pressure to be about equal inside and outside) - When window is all the way open you may be able to escape via window, or open door when pressure is equalized. 3. CARRY A HAMMER INSIDE THE CAR IN CASE YOU HAVE TO BREAK THE WINDOW, which I think would happen if you had automatic windows, or if the window would not open wide enough. Don't waste time trying to smash windshield -- it won't break but back window will break easier -- and car will sink nose-down anyhow if engine is in front, so back window will be towards up -- Get out as quick as you can. 4. If the window won't break and car is sinking, you have one final option: Open the door. If it's too hard at first here's the last chance: Keep your head in the air bubble till the water reaches your chin, then take a deep breath and try to open the door, which you should be able to do now since the pressure inside and outside the car will now be equal since the car is full of water. (But what about power locks?) This scenario used to scare me when I lived in California and occasionally had to drive near the canal -- cars do go into the canal sometimes and people drown.

Viking

You really need to ask Sen. Ted Kennedy. He escaped and went home unhurt. Of course he was drunk at the time and forgot about his passenger. Left her behind to drown. Since he was drunk, he probably doesn't remember how he got out anyway.

Topanga

#1 DO NOT PANIC
#2 Take off your seatbelt
#3 Swim out the window. If the window is closed try to roll it down. If you can't roll it down then use your keys or screwdriver(I keep this handy because I'm paranoid that this will happen to me) or something hard/heavy/pointy to BREAK OUT THE WINDOW.

Lee W

Just don't ride with Ted Kennedy! But seriously, if the back is higher than the front, (likely from the weight of the engine) a bubble of air should form in the back window. You can breath this for quite awhile until the water level gets high enough inside to try to open a door.

gearhead_35k

your electrics will work for a shortr time, even wet. your crank windows will work all the time. roll the window down, climb out of the sinking car, and float to the surface. worst case scenario, wait till the interior of the car is almost full of water, and the door will open effortlessly. then float out. if you try to open the door when the interior is not full, the water pressure outside is pushing the door shut. thats why you wait until the interior is almost full. the pressure will then equalize. the most important thing to remember is not to panic. even though your certainly frightened. really, though, the chances of this happening are almost zero.

ben e

all of the above but also blow a little air to see which way the bubbles go so that you will know which way is up. always stay calm and don't panic

Porterhouse

Provided you are not unconcious.... DO NOT PANIC!!!! If you are able to roll down your windows while exiting the roadway, do so. You may have to remove your shirt to cover your hand to break your window if the electronics fail. Breaking a car window requires a TREMENDOUS amount of force, if you can carry a small hammer under your driver's seat feel free. There are products available that combine a utility knife and hammer expressly for this purpose and should be available either online or at an autoparts store.

With the windows open, allow water to enter the vehicle as the equalization of pressure will allow you to open the door.

This is all easier said than done, rely on safe driving and stay AWAY from Martha's Vineyard with our buddy Ted K!!

The Count

The windows won't open until the car fills up with water because of the difference of the pressure of the water against the outside. If you can keep from panicing, wait until the car is full of water roll the window down and swim to the surface. Sounds easy, but it would be scary. But I think it might work.

joem_1701

Many here have provided some useful information but I did see a show this week on Mythbusters (you be the judge of the validity of the test) which showed that people who waited to open the door until the pressure equalized usually drowned or an out of air before reaching the surface. One thing that people don't know when they hit the water is how far down the bottom is. You may sink faster than the car fills with water. The further you sink, the higher the pressure against the doors. By the time the pressure equalizes, you're out of air. You could try opening the car door before it starts to sink but you don't have much time to try. Try to follow some simple rules:
1) Don't panic. Try to stay as calm as possible. I know it's easier said than done with you're in a situation like this but do your best.
2) Once you hit the water, take your seatbelt off and open the driver's window immediately. Whether they are power windows or manual, they will go down before the car goes under water.
3) Once the car windows is open, get out of the car through the window.
4) In the event you can't get the car window open, make sure you carry one of those devices that they sell especially for breaking car windows. It's a type of "hammer" that has a pointed head. When you strike it against tempered car window glass, it will shatter the glass immediately. Once the glass is gone, swim out quickly and get to the surface.

Ta Dah!

First thing is to remain calm.
Your car will fill up with water and when this is done the pressure inside and out becomes equalized and you can open a door and escape.

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