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How do you escape a sinking car with electric windows?
I want to make sure I learn more about car safety and know what to do in an emergency. My car has power windows and I’m worried that the power will cut out if I’m in the car while it’s sinking. How do you escape a sinking car with electric windows?
Bellina Gaskey · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Great question! If a vehicle goes into the water, it’s important to get the window open as quickly as possibly, before the vehicle is submerged. Ideally, the moment the car makes contact with water, you would undo your seatbelt, open the window, and leave the vehicle through the window.
Any new vehicle is going to have power windows. This is a good thing, because it means being able to put the window down before the car is submerged, and the electrical system is too wet to function. Always try to open the window before assuming it won’t work.
The best case scenario in this situation is to open the window before the car is fully submerged and swim away, or get on top of the vehicle before it sinks entirely. You’ll only have at most a minute before this happens, so time is of the essence. Don’t try to open the door. You won’t be able to force it open against the pressure of the water.
However, if the window won’t roll down, you’ll need to break it. Car emergency kits should have a special tool for breaking windows in them. Keep this somewhere close at hand like in the glove box or center console, so it will be easy to access in an emergency.
Without one of those, you can use the removable headrest from the car or even a stiletto. Aim for the corners of the window.
If you can’t get out of th window, don’t panic. You’ll need to stay calm and wait until the car is completely full of water. This is scary, and should be a last resort, but once the car is full of water the pressure outside and inside the car will be equal, and you’ll be able to open the door.
It may be hard, and you might have to push hard to get out. Be sure to follow the air bubbles straight up so you don’t become disoriented.
Although you’ll hopefully never need to use this information, you always need affordable insurance for your car.
Jerry
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