car rolling into the water

[ballastbelly]

I am not intending to go into a specific incident, just the news got me thinking how to get out of my car if it has no manual window winders & keyless (electronic) doors. i usually try to park at the waters edge, so it is not impossible to happen,   u dont pull handbreak enough & maybe get distracted under the dash for a minute looking for the new batteries for the torch, a second later you feel car roll off the edge.  i wonder if the the doors or windows would work,i remember when i dropped my mobile in the sea it  stopped working instantly.

[ggantno1]

I think that there is no specific answer for your question when eletronics get wet you dont know what is going to happen Last year I had an accident by the water where I dropped 2 mobile phones in the water 2mtrs depth .1 went dead instantly the other went dead I tought but when people tryed to call me it kept vibrating for several hours untill it became very hot and stopped . the same could happen with  other electronics . I think the best thing to do Is to try keeping calm and work your way out as you can!!!

[Blaze]

A friend of mine and I were talking about the incident and how is the best possible escape. I too park on quays so this subject interests me a lot.

The no. 1 must be prevention. If there is a metal bollard which ships or boats fasten their mooring lines too, always park behind one of those. That way if your car accidentally rolls, it will stop against the bollard.

If the worse happens and your windows and door locking are electric, you would think that it is best to break the windscreen... WRONG. Windscreens have a layer of laminate coating in the middle not to break in the drivers/passengers face. So it will shatter and remain in place. The window right next to you is the best bet. Even with the seatbelt buckle it can easily be broken, and maybe even with an elbow.

But lets stick to rule no. 1.

[shanook]

For those who are weary about this there is a special hammer to break the glass, it does not cost a lot and can save a life. its not something bulky either actually quite small. the seat belt buckle is not heavy enough to break the side glass.
Most important is to keep calm and dont try to get out while the water is flooding the car, deep breath and wait at least if my memory serves me right that what we were told to do in a survival camp...........hope that no one gets into a similar situation.

[Blaze]

The seat belt buckle will in fact break the side glass above water. Below is another story.

[lorbsin]

When a car is with electric windows they still work even if under water, for about 3 minutes they will still work. so you still have time to get out of your car but not all cases are the same he might lost conscious when he hit the sea  .all cars have to go under certain safety regulations. The technology is not just doing it but it has to make certain tests which has to go under extreme tests.so if something does not pass these tests it cannot be sold.

[ggantno1]

 when accidents like this happen you dont even have the chance to think same happened to me few years ago when I fell at work I didnt have the chance to realize what happened untill I hit the floor and ended up with 15 fragmented fractures !!  then you hear people you could have done that or that and blablabla . each accident is different . The guy that lost his life was  my friend and I believe that he has done anything possible to save his life but unfortunatly he didn't suceed  .
@ Lorbsin you a right but do you trust these extrem tests ? I dont !! you see cars that have trouble after a couple of years  or even after few months . If Im not mistaken last year toyota was on the news becouse some models from 2004 onwards had developed problems and where not safe on the road.

[lorbsin]

I have to say that you're right  my friend . I am really sorry if i was misunderstood but i was just making the point that electric windows can still work even if under water but as you said they can go wrong.he was surely very unlucky.

[ggantno1]

No you dont have to be sorry you was not misunderstood but I just dont trust my life in these extrem tests. I think the best think to do is dont take risks in life . If you park near the water try not to park facing the water  .

[ballastbelly]

i found a topgear video where they got someone to try this, although regrettabley they didnt treat the subject in a serious way, still they uncovered valuable info:

-central locking went haywire & started engaging by itself
-12v motor for the electric windows is not strong enough to open a window
pressured on one side by the sea
-either you get out on while at the surface, or you have to wait till car reaches bottom, which in this non relaxed situtation, is probably beyond the limits of breathholding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyx1E2s-tsE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgvNgwJHcmg

[baghira]

Dont forget that it was dark, which makes everything more complicated.

But in any case, learning how you can deal with these situations could be very helpful.
This is the same reason why we learn first aid.

[The_Gaffer]

I think the best way to deal with a situation like this, once it happens is to remain absolutely calm, unbuckle your seat belt first, move the driver's seat as close as possible to the wind screen, plant both feet on the windscreen, supporting your back to the back of the seat, wait until the pressure inside and outside the car has equalled, meaning the car needs to be fully submerged and push with all your strength against the windsceen.  This should pop the windscreen out, and then as quick as you can, ease yourself out of the seat, through the the car and make it to the top.  The idea of breaking the side window using the seat belt buckle is good too, which you can attempt to do while the car is filling up with water.  So, you have 2 attempts at saving your live, within a very short time indeed.  So you need to remain focused.  First start  with the side window, if that fails, go for the wind shield.  However, prevention is always better than cure, so ensure your handbrake is up before releasing the break when parking near or along side a quay.  

[dgal0021]

Most of the things mentioned are correct but one must note that in most cases when a car rolls into the sea it turns upside down. This is because most cars are front engined so the car nose dives into the sea. Accidents happen in a split of a second but knowing certain things can help us in such extreem situations. So the best thing to do when this happens is to be in a brace position before impact with the sea, best to hold one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the roof as firm as possible to avoid head impacts. In the case the car overturns its best to leave the seatbelt on until the last moment before you exit the car as it will help you stay in position. Never try to open your door whilst sinking or waste valuable time smashing your windscreen. Either smash your side window and escape or wait until the car is fully submerged so pressure is equalised, then you can either smash the window or open the door undersea. Also, when its dark you can easily be disoriented and swim the wrong way so you should be calm and swim slowly. 

I hope no one ever finds himself in such a position but being somehow prepared can help.

[caldaland]

there are many a good site on the internet to instruct one what to do in such circumstances. so let us please refrain from giving counterproductive advices. LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE!

[Kevin G]

an important factor one can take in consideration, after pulling up the handbreak, if you are facing towards the water, put in reverse gear and vise versa if facing backwords put on drive gear will stop your car from running down if I am going correct.