Do You Know What to Do if Your Car is Submerged in Water?
Every year, 350-400 people die in submersed vehicles in North America, with these deaths accounting for up to 10% of all drownings. Vehicle submersion has the highest fatality rate of any type of single-vehicle accident. Most of these incidents are survivable, as vehicles usually hit the water in an upright position, causing, at most, non-disabling injuries; in these cases, death results from either ineffective or no self-rescue actions by the victim(s). Perhaps more commonly, flash floods can catch drivers by surprise, trapping them in their cars as floodwaters rush past.
If you find yourself in a sinking car, the natural reaction may be to panic. This is the worst thing you can do. From the moment your car begins to submerge into the water, you need to quickly make important decisions.
Stay Calm and Act Quickly
- Take a deep breath and focus
Unbuckle your Seatbelt
- Release the seatbelt immediately
Open or Break a Window
- If electric windows fail, break a window. You can use your headrest.
Escape Through the Window
- Exit through the window
Swim to Safety
- Once out, swim to the surface and away from the vehicle
Vehicle occupants should not call 911, wait for the car to fill up with water, or do anything else that would delay them from getting to safety as quickly as they can, experts say.
What Is Turn Around Don’t Drown™ (TADD)?
Turn Around Don’t Drown™ (TADD) is a National Weather Service campaign to warn people of the hazards of walking or driving a vehicle through flood waters.
Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other severe weather-related hazard. The Centers for Disease Control report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters. Why? The main reason is that people underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn that the road is flooded.
What Happens When Your Car Hits the Water?
If a car leaves the roadway and lands in deep water, most passenger vehicles will float on the surface for 30 seconds to several minutes. However, if the water is deeper than the body of the car, it will sink!
A vehicle with open windows and/or doors will sink faster than the same one with windows and/or doors closed. If a vehicle has all of its windows and doors closed, it will initially descend slowly, but as the car loses buoyancy, the speed of descent will increase.
Whether driving or walking, any time you come to a flooded area, Turn Around Don’t Drown®.
Don’t underestimate the power of water. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock over and carry away an adult. Twelve inches of fast-moving water can carry away a small car. Eighteen to twenty-four inches of water can carry away most large SUVs, vans, and trucks.
Source: NOAA, 3 Steps for Flash Foods
Five Tips for Escaping a Sinking Car
Tip 1: Stay Calm
Think clearly and act quickly. A typical car floats for 30 to 120 seconds before completely submerging. Your actions in the first two minutes will help you escape your vehicle.
Tip 2: Roll Down All the Windows
When your car hits the water, roll down the windows. This is your exit route. Do this before the waterline rises above the height of the windows. The pressure of the water may prevent windows from rolling down, even if you have automatic windows. Do not try to break the windshield. The windshield is the thickest glass in the car and will be extremely difficult to break from inside the vehicle.
Tip 3: Take Off Your Seatbelt
Take your seatbelt off quickly, so you are able to move freely inside the car. Cut your seatbelt if you need to.
Tip 4: Assist Other Passengers
Check on passengers, especially children. Unlatch restraints on the car seat and help older children unbuckle their seatbelts. Instruct them to exit through the car window closest to them or bring them to the front seat to exit with you.
Tip 5: Climb Through the Window and Swim to Safety
Climbing out the window is easiest when the waterline is still below the car window. If water is past the window, you will still be able to climb out. Hold your breath, come to the surface, and swim away from the vehicle. If you have a small child with you in the front seat, put them through the window first and follow after them to assist them to the surface.
What to Avoid Doing When Your Car is Sinking
Do not open the doors. It may be your first survival instinct when your car hits the water to try to open the car door to get out of the vehicle, but this will only cause the vehicle to sink more rapidly. It is extremely difficult to open a car door with water in front of it.
Do not wait for the car to fill with water. When the car starts sinking under the water, the water pressure outside the car will make opening the car door virtually impossible, no matter how strong you are. You may have been advised to wait until the car fully fills up with water for the pressure on the inside and outside of the car to equalize. The idea here is that when the pressure equalizes, the car door can be opened with ease for escape. While this may be true, the inside and outside pressure will not equalize immediately after the car is submerged. You may be forced to hold your breath and hope you can open the door and escape before you run out of time.
When to Take Caution
The National Weather Service advises people to watch for warnings of potential hazards.
“Take Action!” When These Products Are Issued
Warnings or advisories for the events below are issued when confidence is greater than 80% that an event will occur. Depending on the type of event, these may be issued anywhere from hours before an event to days in advance of an event.
- Flash Flood Warning
- Flood Warning
- Flood Advisory
- Coastal/Lakeshore Hazardous Message
- Special Weather Statement
“Be Prepared” When These Products Are Issued
Watch products associated with flooding are typically issued within a day or more of the event. The types of events are listed below. The confidence level for an event to occur when a watch is issued is 50-80%. When a watch is issued, you should begin to gather more information about the situation and determine what actions you will need to take should a warning be issued.
- Flash Flood Watch
- Flood Watch
What To Do Next
If the accident was caused by another driver, a car accident lawyer can help you determine who is truly liable for the accident. Insurance companies will do all they can to get you to say something that gives them an excuse to pay you less money. If an insurance agent calls, you can say “talk to my lawyer.”
Anyone can become a victim. Whether you are a driver or a passenger, there are important steps to take to remove yourself from a sinking car to safety. Remember to stay calm, keep the doors closed, and lower the windows to climb through. Try to assist any passengers in the car if you are able and if they need help. Following these steps will significantly increase your chances of escaping a sinking car and reaching safety.
Videos and Public Service Announcements
- MPR News: Flood Forecasting is Tricky Business: YouTube
- Swift Water Rescue: Real rescue of family caught in flood waters
Public Service Announcements (PSA) on Flood Safety: NWS YouTube Channel
- Turn Around Don’t Drown
- Flood Safety Wireless Emergency Alerts
- Hazardous Arroyos
- Know your Caves
- Power of Moving Water
- Storm Drains
- Water Safety in Canyons
- White Water Rafting Safety
