Can the car window be opened when the car falls into water?

[VonConnor]

No, the water pressure is too great at this time. Four major self-rescue measures when a car falls into water: 1. Abandon the car as early as possible: Upon discovering danger, open the window as soon as possible, and abandon the car when necessary—life is most important. 2. Open the door first if submerged: If the car falls into water, try to open the door first; otherwise, you can only wait until the car is filled with water and the internal and external water pressure equalizes before opening the door. 3. Use sharp objects to break the window: If the door cannot be opened, break the window as soon as possible. Self-rescue tools like hammers, steering wheel locks, or high heels can be used to break the window. 4. Hold your breath and wait for pressure balance to escape: If breaking the window is not possible, stay calm, hold your breath, and wait for the car to fill with water until the internal and external pressures equalize before opening the door to escape. Additional tips: 1. Never restart the car after it has been submerged. 2. Under normal circumstances, do not open the car door; call for rescue immediately.

[VanLilah]

Can you open the car window when the car falls into water? I've experienced a similar drill: the first 30 seconds after submersion is the golden escape time. At this point, the power windows can still function, and immediately pressing the window button is more effective than pushing the car door. However, as the water level rises and exceeds the midpoint of the window, the water pressure will make the door immovable, and the power windows may also short-circuit and fail. It's safest to have a window-breaking hammer. I always hang one with a tungsten steel tip on the driver's side door. If the window can't be opened, immediately use the hammer to strike the four corners of the window, and the tempered glass will shatter into pieces. Never wait until the water reaches your neck to act, as by then, your lung capacity may not be enough to hold your breath and swim out.

[AndrewDella]

My thirty years of driving experience tell me: when a car falls into water, the first reaction should be to unbuckle the seatbelt, not to fiddle with the window switches. Before the water reaches the car door, immediately try to open the window to escape—this is the optimal window of opportunity. Most cars' electric windows stop working once the circuit is submerged, and it's impossible to push the window open by brute force. Water pressure increases by one ton for every additional meter of depth. During a rescue drill, I witnessed a car sinking to two meters deep, where several strong men couldn't push the window open together. The most reliable tool is a window breaker, and I recommend buying one with a blade—it can cut seatbelts and break windows.

[VonWalter]

From a mechanical perspective, car windows can indeed be opened during the initial stages of submersion. However, three critical factors must be considered: first, whether the vehicle's engine is off, as water immersion can instantly disable power windows; second, the rate of water ingress—SUVs with better seals may hold out for two to three minutes, while sedans flood faster; third, the type of window glass—laminated glass cannot be broken with bare fists. In one of my tests, a sedan's sunroof proved easier to break open due to its larger size and fragile structure. If no tools are available, using the headrest to pry the window edges is laborious but better than being trapped inside.

[EloiseRose]

I have personal experience with escaping a submerged car. That winter, my car broke through the ice and sank into the lake, and the windows wouldn't budge. Later, firefighters told me: when water covers the wheels, the external water pressure is 20 times greater than the internal atmospheric pressure. At this point, it's best not to attempt opening the car door, as it will only allow water to rush in faster. The correct approach is to use a sharp object to strike the four corners of the window—a phone stand or keys can serve as emergency tools. I usually keep a multi-functional rescue hammer in the rear storage compartment, the kind with a cutting blade and alarm function. Oh, and remember to take a deep breath and cover your mouth and nose before breaking the window, as glass fragments will rush in with the water.