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How Do You Escape From a Sinking Car?Drive a Corolla.

By Christopher Beam
Updated Friday, Aug. 3, 2007, at 6:24 PM ET
A submerged car. Click image to expand.

A bridge spanning the Mississippi River collapsed Wednesday, sending dozens of vehicles plummeting 60 feet into the river below. How do you escape from a sinking car?

First, roll down the windows. If the windows are still above the waterline, just climb out. But if the car is sinking fast, wait for the interior to fill with water—you won't be able to open the door until there's enough water inside the car to equalize the pressure on the outside. Opening the windows helps the water flow in faster, which gives you a better chance of escaping before your car sinks too deep. Survival experts recommend keeping your seatbelt on until the last possible second. Otherwise, the rush of water could disorient and possibly injure you. Plus, it gives you extra leverage to open the door when it's time to escape. If for some reason you can't open the windows or doors, try kicking out the windshield or smashing a side window as a last resort. (You can buy emergency LifeHammers for just this purpose.)

Try not to panic. Easier said than done, of course—the impact of the water or an airbag probably will stun you. But it's hard to hold your breath if your heart is racing and carbon dioxide builds up in your blood too quickly. Survival Systems USA, a firm that trains soldiers in emergency escape techniques, has found that it takes about 20 seconds to escape through the door of a submerged car. A calm, relaxed person can hold their breath for 30 to 45 seconds underwater. So, if your pulse is pounding, you don't have much room for error.

When it comes to water exits, some cars are better than others. Lighter cars generally float longer, so you'd be better off in a Corolla than a Suburban. Even though an SUV has more space inside and therefore more air, its 6,000 pounds will pull it down faster.

An old Volkswagen ad campaign bragged about how a Beetle could float, but even the most buoyant cars won't stay above water longer than a minute or two. Float time also varies depending on how the car enters the water—e.g., an upside-down impact could break the windows—and how tight the seal is on the doors. (Besides kicking tires, car buyers will often slam doors to test the seal. A good seal will produce a nice, crisp thwack.)

You're also better off with a car that has manual locks and windows instead of automatic ones. A car's electronics are likely to fail soon after it goes underwater, once its "brain boxes"—small electronic modules that control the car's functions—get wet. (These devices are often sealed against moisture, but never waterproof.) Same goes for what's under the hood: Modern cars with electronic engine controls stop working when they get wet. (That's why some cars can get stranded in the middle of deep puddles.) But if you want to be really safe, you might want to get a convertible.

Got a question about today's news? Ask the Explainer.

Explainer thanks Richard Martin of Survival Systems USA and J.A. "Doc" Watson.

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Christopher Beam is a Slate political reporter.
Photograph of submerged car by STR/AFP/Getty Images.
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Remarks from the Fray:

In the article on sinking cars your expert has given some seriously erroneous advice regarding the electrical devices on vehicles including power door locks, windows etc failing soon after a vehicle enters the water. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I am a professional rescue diver and had the good fortune to be involved with the Michigan State Police Dive Team. They conducted one of the most extensive vehicle submersion studies to date on Lake Charlevoix involving over 21 different makes and models of vehicles. The study was called Project Star and is available on the internet or contacting the Michigan State Police. They even have a video of the whole thing including methods of testing etc.

There were a number of significant findings in the study. One of them being that electrical devices in vehicles including such things as power accessories, door locks, windows, windshield wipers and headlights can continue to operate for up to 20 minutes after a vehicle submerges in fresh water.

Another significant finding is that if the water which the vehicle enters is 12 ft in depth or shallower and the vehicle enters the water upright it will always land on its wheels. If the water is deeper than 15 feet they will always land on the roof or turn turtle as it were because the weight of the engine causes the car to assume a nose under orientation as it sinks.

If the bottom is mucky and the vehicle lands on its roof the likely hood of escape via the opening door technique is quite slim the door posts and frame itself will likely be buried in the muck. You are far better off trying to escape before the water reaches over the A- pillar...the point on the vehicle where the passenger windows meet the front roof pillar. Because the car will already have assumed a nose down orientation in the water this actually makes it easier to exit via the side windows. Electrically operated windows take only a few seconds to lower and the vehicles even heavy ones usually remain above the surface long enough to safely exit. But do not delay your exit for any reason just like in a fire. Time is very short and it is your enemy in water immersion situations as it is with fire.

Once you have exited the vehicle do not attempt to go back. If someone else was in the vehicle with you do not waste time trying to attempt a rescue yourself. Establish a last seen point....the point at which you last saw the vehicle...pick a spot on the bank, a tree, a building for a land mark anything on shore. This will help divers locate the vehicle quickly to effect a rescue of the trapped victims. The sooner 9-1-1 is called the sooner help is on the way. If you perish or become too exhausted to go for help then you have lost precious time that the fire department or dive team could have been using to get your loved one to safety. Remember time is the enemy in this situation act quickly, think smart, be safe not sorry.

--firemanfred

(To reply, click here.)

Mythbusters did a great episode on this a while back. As I recall, having manual vs electric windows doesn't help because of the tremendous pressure pushing against the glass. Unless you can open the doors or windows *immediately* upon entering the water, you'll have to wait for the car to fill up.

Their suggestion was to try to calm down during the time the car fills with water... slow down your breathing so that you can escape through the door once the pressure equalizes.

They did also test the mini-hammers, and they work like a charm... though they weren't able to break the glass using other hard objects you might have near you, such as a cellphone.

--dlopez

(To reply, click here.)

The Wilderness Medical Society advises a considerably different protocol in escaping a sinking car. First, quickly unbuckle yourself, then unbuckle your kids and get them into the front seat with you. Roll down your window push your kids out (or pull them with you if they are too small). Do not waste time opening a door...climb out the window.

Electrical systems will continue to work underwater. They are designed that way. It takes less than a minute to evacuate a family of four through the window. Do not wait for your car to sink. A car that falls into water will float wheels side down due the weight of the chassis. Most cars can float up to three minutes. Again...go out the window.

--Lynn Yonge

(To reply, click here.)

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