How long does it take for a car to be completely submerged after falling into water?
2 Answers
A car will be completely submerged approximately 2 minutes after falling into water. Here is detailed information about automotive safety: 1. Overview: Automotive safety is mainly divided into two major aspects - active safety and passive safety. Active safety refers to the ability to control the vehicle as smoothly as possible. Whether braking and accelerating in a straight line or steering left and right, the operation should be as stable as possible to avoid deviating from the intended path, without affecting the driver's visibility and comfort. 2. Others: The scope of automotive safety technology is becoming increasingly broad and detailed, developing towards integration, intelligence, systematization, and universalization. Strictly controlling speed during night driving is the fundamental measure to ensure safety.
When I was a driving instructor at a driving school, I often reminded students about the risks of driving near water. The time it takes for a car to be submerged after falling into water varies greatly, mainly depending on the water depth and the way the car enters the water. Generally, in shallow water or when entering slowly, the car may be submerged in about 20 seconds. However, if the car plunges into deep water at high speed on a highway, the impact of the water current can cause it to sink rapidly within seconds. In most cases, the car is completely submerged within 30 seconds to a minute. From my analysis of actual accidents, I found that factors like vehicle weight and sealing also affect the sinking time—lighter cars sink faster. I recommend avoiding speeding when driving near water and keeping a window-breaking tool in the car. In case of an emergency, immediately unbuckle the seatbelt and open the window to escape, don’t wait for the water pressure to seal the door. Tragedies like this happen every year, and practicing escape steps in advance can save lives.
