What to Do If a Car Accidentally Falls into Water?

[VonLogan]

Try to open the car window or unlock the door as much as possible; if neither the door nor the window can be opened, find a sharp object like a safety hammer to break the window. If the window cannot be broken and the car is gradually sinking, try to escape through the sunroof. When the water inside the car is close to neck level, take a deep breath of oxygen, then use force to open the door. Swim to the surface as quickly as possible and get away from the car.

[Jodie]

The most important thing when a car is submerged in water is to remain calm. I witnessed a friend's escape process firsthand: first, immediately unbuckle your own and passengers' seat belts, prioritizing helping children and elderly to get free. Never attempt to open the door—the water pressure is too great to overcome. Instead, while the electrical system is still functional, quickly lower the windows or push the door open to climb out. If the windows fail, pull out the headrest from the seat and use its metal rods to pry into the window gap with force, or use a safety hammer to strike the corners. Before the water fully submerges the car, take a deep breath, hold onto the child, and swim out together. Once out, don’t worry about the car—swim to shore and call for help. Remember, the car has some buoyancy time; staying clear-headed can save your life.

[DeMichael]

The key to escaping a submerged car lies in seizing the golden three minutes. From personal experience, take a deep breath the moment the car hits the water. While the front end sinks slower, unfasten all seatbelts immediately. Don't waste energy trying to open doors - attempt to roll down windows first, as power windows may still function for a few minutes. If that fails, use heavy objects like metal keys or high heels to smash side window edges. When water reaches chest level, the pressure difference equalizes, making door pushing easier. When escaping with elderly or children, support their backs to swim upward. After exiting, swim directly to shore without delay.

[ElainaLynn]

As someone who frequently participates in water rescue training, my advice is: Unbuckle your seatbelt immediately upon falling into the water, and simultaneously lower the window or open the door. If this fails, wait for the water to fill the car to balance the pressure before pushing the door open. When escaping, always ensure children can breathe first by supporting them under their armpits and pushing them upward. There's typically a half-minute window to escape when the water reaches the roof of the car—avoid panicking and flailing inside, which consumes oxygen. When swimming out, stay away from the vehicle to avoid being pulled back. Once ashore, call for help immediately. Remember, conserving energy is crucial.

[AlanaAnn]

Survival rate when a vehicle is submerged depends on staying calm. From numerous cases I've read, first automatically unbuckle the seatbelt, then immediately try to open the electric windows to climb out. If they fail, use the metal rods from the headrest to pry the window corners or smash the glass edges with a phone. Never attempt to open the door; wait until the car is nearly filled with water when internal and external pressures equalize to push it open. The escape route is to swim upward away from the vehicle, and note that clothes and shoes absorb water and become heavy, so consider removing them beforehand. If children are present, have them tightly hold onto your neck to float to the surface. Swim to shore as quickly as possible to warm up and prevent hypothermia.

[ElijahDella]

When encountering a car plunging into water, the core principle is to act quickly, accurately, and steadily. I've taught my family emergency methods: immediately unfasten all seatbelt buttons while simultaneously pressing the window-open button. If the electric windows fail, use a hard object to smash the thinnest edge of the side window—keys or high heels will work. Then assist the elderly and children to climb out through the window, exiting last yourself. If water pressure is too strong to push the door open, hold your breath and wait until the cabin is nearly full of water before pushing the door to escape. When surfacing, stay far from the car to avoid being caught in the current. Swim to a safe area and immediately contact rescue services—never turn back for belongings. The entire escape process should be completed within two minutes.