A car sinking in water is dangerous. In order to escape, you must remain calm, stay focused, and know what to do ahead of time. Read this guide to learn how.

Written by Bellina Gaskey

Reviewed by Carrie Adkins

Updated on Aug 30, 2023

Table of Contents

Preparation
Escape quickly
Sinking car

To survive a car sinking in water, you will need to remain calm and get a window open as quickly as possible.

Finding yourself in a sinking car is a nightmare situation that can end fatally, but there are ways to escape such a scenario.

No matter what the circumstances were that got you into the water in the first place, a sinking car scenario leaves little room for hesitation or panic. According to the U.S. National Highway and Transportation Administration, approximately 400 people lose their lives in the United States annually by drowning in vehicles.

Jerry

has compiled everything you need to know about escaping a car in water. We'll talk about how to prepare for an accident like this, how to escape from a car that is almost underwater, and what to do if your vehicle is already submerged.

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How to prepare for a sinking car

Obviously the best course of action is to avoid being in a car submerged in deep water in the first place. Be aware of your surroundings,

drive carefully

, and keep an eye out for road warning signs or barricades. However, if you do find yourself in a car in water, you can take certain steps to get to safety.

You should consider having

vehicle escape tools

in easy reach within your car. An escape tool is generally an all-in-one device with multiple capabilities, including spring loaded tools that will help you break a window and cut a seatbelt.

If you have escape tools easily available in your vehicle, you're one step closer to getting out of the sinking car.

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How to escape a car in water before it starts sinking

This method is your best chance for survival. By thinking and acting quickly, you can execute these steps before the car starts sinking deep underwater.

Open a window ahead of time if possible. As soon as possible, roll down your window. Do this before you even touch the water, if you can. It will be much easier to open your car windows now than when your car starts to sink. If you are in a car with other passengers, try to roll down their windows as well.

Brace for impact. Once you realize that your car is going into the water, brace yourself. Place each hand on the wheel, at "nine" and "three" respectively, and be prepared for the airbag to go off. Remember to remain calm.

Focus on getting out quickly. Don't call 911 yet. First, try to get out of the vehicle. Things can move very quickly in this situation. It is likely that help will not get there in time; you will have to get yourself out on your own. Getting out should be your first priority.

Stay focused, don’t panic, and move quickly. Your best option is to get out while your car remains floating if at all possible.

Unbuckle your seat belt. Undoing seat belts is the first thing you should remember to do once in the water. First unbuckle yourself, then any children or other passengers who need assistance. You may want to have a

seat belt cutter

on hand, just in case.

If you weren't able to before hitting the water, open a window. If you weren't able to open a window before making impact with the water, do so now. Don’t open a door! Water will rush in if you do, and your car will sink much faster.

Making every effort to open a window is your best way out. Most electric windows will work after the impact with the water, so try the buttons on the power windows first.

If there's no success with the power window buttons, you can use a detachable car headrest to break windows. If that doesn't work, you may want to try kicking them out.

It's also a good idea to have a glass or window-breaking tool, such as a

center punch

, in your car or on a key ring.

You can also use a heavy object that you happen to have in the car. With these, you should be aiming to hit at the middle of the window.

If you don't have any other objects, you can try to kick the window and break it with your feet by aiming at the breakpoints, which are located at the hinges or toward the front end of the window.

Don’t try to break the windshield. Windshields are made out of laminated glass which makes it much more difficult to break than the tempered glass of a the other windows in your car. Rear or side windows are your best option.

Attend to any children first. If there are any other passengers in the vehicle, helping them should be your next immediate concern.

If the passengers are children, it's would be best to get the eldest unbuckled first–they are more capable to help you with the younger ones. Making sure everyone is unbuckled and lending a quick word of assurance will put your successful escape in motion.

If the child is unable to swim, you or another adult passenger will need to accompany that child out of the car through the window.

Get out and get on top of the car. Once any children are out of the car, pull yourself out as quickly as possible. Be prepared for water to be coming in through the window as you do so. This may take some extra strength, but you can do it.

Once you get through the open windows, it's a matter of swimming to the surface. Take a large breath of air and plug your nose as you make it through, keeping your oxygen saved for the trip upwards.

Although it's natural to panic and rush to the top, it's still very important to remain calm on your way up. The frenzy to reach the surface may tire you out or put you in shock, and you should still be ready to help other passengers if they need it.

If possible, get on top of the car for support. If the car is still floating, you can use this time to catch your breath before moving forward.

Decide where to go from here. Taking your circumstances into consideration, you will need to decide whether to stay on top of the car or swim somewhere else. Keep the weather conditions and water temperature in mind when deciding where to go from there.

If the water is shallow enough for the top of the car to rest above its surface, the water may be shallow enough for you to stand, making it easier to get to shore. However, if it is cold outside, you may want to stay where you are. If the water is deep and your car is still sinking, you will need to prepare to swim for the water’s edge, and you will need to do so quickly if the water is cold.

Call 911. Whether you are staying on the car or have gotten to the water’s edge, now is the time to get help. If any phones have survived being submerged, call 911. Otherwise, flag down a passing motorist and ask him or her to call for you.

It's important to enlist medical help immediately. This is an absolute must, whether or not you feel any symptoms at the time. If the water was cold, you could be in the early stages of hypothermia. Getting quick and timely help for you and the other passengers will nip any lingering problems.

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How to escape a sinking car

In the event that your car sinks very quickly or you are not able to open or break a window, following these steps can increase your chances of getting out safely.

Do NOT undo any seat belts. In this situation, you want to tether yourself to the car so that you will more easily be able to open a door once it is full of water.

Remain calm and take several deep, slow breaths until the water reaches your chin–then hold your breath.

Wait until the pressure equalizes and open a door. The pressure within and outside of the car will equalize around when you hold your breath. At this point, get a door open.

Unbuckle your seat belt. Hold on to the steering wheel as an anchor, then unbuckle your seat belt.

Pull yourself out and swim to the surface. Grab onto the door latch, let go of the wheel, and heave yourself out through the open door. Continue to hold your breath in your lungs and use this to help you float toward the surface if you’re unsure which direction is up.

Once you know where to go, swim as fast as you can in that direction, watching for any obstacles or debris in the water.

Swim to safety and call for help. Once at the surface, you can decide which way is best to swim. Then, once you have reached dry land, you can call 911 or flag someone down to do it for you.

As with the previous method, you will need to attend to any children in the car first. Tell them to hold their breath when it’s time, help them get through the door quickly, and direct or pull them toward the surface. They may need extra assistance swimming to safety.

Having a mental plan to fall back on if you're ever in a sinking car could mean the difference between life and death. While you're at it, you should educate regular passengers on a quick plan for the worst case scenario. Fortunately, it's likely you'll never need to put your plan in action, but it's always useful to be prepared. Keep these tips in mind, stay calm and keep focused, and you will make it out (maybe even with

your car

intact).

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