How to escape from a sinking car

Drowning is at the top of the list of fears for many people, And the detailed scenes of many horrific movies have done nothing to quiet those fears, even though it’s rare to drown in a car. In 2015 there were 321 accidental deaths in water according to the Water Incident Database (WAID). Only nine of these involved vehicles, compared with 38 boating accidents and 16 anglers.

Though drowning in a car is uncommon it’s important to know what to do if your car is ever fully submerged in water. Your first course of action won’t be anything physical, it’ll be mental and that is to remain calm.

Drowning can happen in different scenarios such as floodwater, entering deep water, or being fully submerged under water – each requires a different response.

Keep reading for more information on the steps to take if your car fills with water.

Escape from a sinking car

What to do if your car goes into floodwater

Water can cause major damage to a vehicle so if you ever have the unfortunate experience of driving through floodwater be extra careful. For example, the tiny amount of water that can fit in an egg cup holder is enough to stall your engine. Imagine what massive amounts of floodwater will do.

Here’s what to do if your car enters floodwater:

Assess the depth of the water, if it looks deep turn around don’t try to pass through
Water that is too deep can flood the intake and cause your car to stop
For shallow floodwater use a low gear and drive at a speed of 3 to 4 mph
Driving too fast will create a wave at the front of your car called a bow wave
This wave will push water into the engine resulting in system failure

If you're driving and get trapped in flood water, it's best to stay in the car and call for help. Only get out if the water is still, shallow, you can see the bottom and there’s dry land nearby.

How to get out of the car:

Turn off the engine, this will stop water from entering the engine and causing damage
Unbuckle your seatbelt and unlock all doors
If the water is low and the car isn’t submerged, open the door to exit
If the water is high, exit through the window or sunroof
Once outside the car, immediately get to higher ground and call for help (do not try to cross open flowing water to get to safety)

Ways that driving through floodwater can damage your car:

Engine damage due to water entering through the air intake
Contamination of the transmission that can cause starter failure
Engine Misfire because of a contaminated fuel system
The water can cause major brake system damage such as rusting or seizing
Damage to the interior such as upholstery or carpet

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What to do if your car enters deep water

If your car ends up in deep water such as a river, lake or canal brace yourself. A sinking car’s airbags may go off when it hits the water. This coupled with the cold water may shock you but it’s important to stay calm and act quickly. Don't wait for the car to fill up or waste time trying to call for help.

One foot of water can make a car float and lose contact with the road. It may float for a short while, so use this opportunity to get out before it starts to sink. Free yourself and your passengers from seatbelts and child seats. The door will be hard to open because of the water pressure outside.

Electric windows should still work for a while, open them and the sunroof if you have one. If your window jams and doesn’t roll down, you’ll need to break it, take the headrest out if possible and use the pointed end to do this. Help passengers escape through openings as quickly as possible.

How to get out of a car underwater

If a vehicle is already submerged, you need to act quickly to escape. A vehicle will always sink heavy end first, this is where the engine is located. Front-first sinking can create a pocket of air in the back of the car. Naturally, you may want to move towards this airflow, but that’s the wrong move. Always stay in the front of the car.

Follow these steps to get out of a car underwater.

Release your seatbelt and open the windows
Windows are the best exit point if a car is underwater
If there are children in the car, free them and get them out first
It will take 1 to 2 minutes for the car to fill up, breathe deeply and prepare to swim
Once out swim to the surface, take care in the water as there might be debris floating around

How to stay safe and avoid entering water with your car

You may not have left your home with plans of your car entering water, but it can happen. Flash floods can take a turn for the worst and sweep a car off the road, or a sharp turn can make a vehicle slide into a canal. These are frightening but, in some cases, avoidable.

Here are our tips on how to avoid entering water with your car:

Don’t park close to rivers, canal banks, beaches or harbours
Put the handbrake on and leave the car in gear; put automatics into 'park'
Don't leave young children unattended
Take care manoeuvring close to water's edge
Don't drive into floodwater that's moving or more than 4 inches deep
Bear in mind that water levels can change quickly

How to escape a sinking car with a baby or children

Children should always be the priority in the case of your car sinking. They should be out of the car first from oldest to youngest. In this order the oldest child can help the younger ones.

How to escape a sinking car with electric windows

Electric windows may work for a short time while submerged. If the windows aren’t working because the car has lost power, you’ll need to break them.

Ways to break through an electric window:

At the base of the headrest are the 2 metal prongs that adjust the height of the headrest, these are shaped to aid breaking a window. Hold the headrest firmly with the prongs directed at the window
Use the buckle of the seatbelt, this may take some time, but it will weaken the window
If there aren’t any heavy objects around you that can be used to break the window, use your arms or legs. This is a last resort option because you can cause bodily harm

Conclusion

It’s important to be prepared for the unexpected and know how to safely escape a sinking car. Though it isn’t a common occurrence, unforeseen circumstances could land you in a situation where you need to act fast.

Remember to remain calm, remove your seatbelt and find an escape through a window or sunroof. By keeping these steps in mind, you can increase your chances of getting out safely.