Could you escape from a car if it all the sudden sunk into the water?

[lightbulb27]

Was thinking about this issue the other day while teaching teen to drive. What do you do if you go into the water.

Could you get out... are you prepared for that rare event.

Question inspired by reality that a bridge just collapsed and some people and their cars did go into the water.

And what is your technique?

Pray for all those impacted and families. Life changes fast.

[Redstang88]

Well my truck has crank windows so I’d be fine there, and you can use seatbelt buckles or headrest if you can get them out.
Unfortunately this one is gonna be body recovery not S&R, that bridge is over 200 high so you’re dead when you hit the water either.
Scary situation either way, I’m a tug captain in the port here and we were just talking the other day about the expansion and near doubled traffic to follow. We have a couple very similar narrows here so I wonder if there may be a policy change coming now

[lightbulb27]

didn't realize was so high. 200ft down is long ways plus water. awful to think about. I cannot imagine they readily have resources on hand that can dive in to save people. That's special skills and equipment.

[Redstang88]

Well those ships are like 150-180’ air draft so it would have to be higher than that. Water there is actually pretty shallow, only about 50’ so easy diving for recovery mission. Like I said for something like this it’s not really search and rescue, just body recovery.
We have a few similar bridges here, I had to fish out a jumper last year and can confirm it ain’t pretty when you hit the water from that height

[Phoenix98]

My pocket knife that I carry is actually a heavy duty rescue knife which in addition to a folding blade has a belt cutter on it and a glass breaker so in the event of an accident I could both cut my seat belt off and shatter any windows needed.

In addition to that I drive a 91 pick up truck so it has crank windows no electronics. So it doesn't matter if my truck has no power underwater.

So in the event I was in an accident where my truck got submerged and I wasn't knocked out yes I think I could probably get out and swim back up to the surface.

However a bridge like the one in the picture is so high up that'd probably be either knocked out on impact or dead on impact.

[katiesmuff]

In a case like this particular one I think the shock first, fall and sudden jolt when hitting the water or bridge parts would have you so shaken up that I doubt any pre planned exit would be exceptionally hard to execute. Then there is the likelihood more of the bridge or other cars would land on or close around you.

[Kori1236]

I have a knife that’s a window breaker and can cut my belt if needed. But I’d have to escape quickly. Course it depends on how deep the river is. If it’s deep I’d have to try and get out within the first 10ft it also depends on how cold the river is. Cold water and shock and freeze the system

[DryGermanGuy]

I seem to remember this being part of military training. The crucial thing is you can't open the door against the water pressure. So you either have to be able to handle a glass breaker under maximum stress or to calm yourself down, while the cabin fills up. Either way, not a situation I want to be in!

[DJB72]

Hope it's not too deep first. Use the headrest spike to break a window, let the car fill up and swim out. If it's deep water don't wait to hit the bottom.

[lightbulb27]

Good thoughts!

[exitseven]

I have a house on an island. You have to take a ferry out there. I was concerned about getting stuck in my truck if the boat sank. I bought a tool that will break the windshield so we could get out. I keep it in my center console where I can get at it

[Anpu23]

Best bet is to open a window before the power goes out. Then unbuckle and swim to the surface (follow the air bubbles they head up). Don't try and open the car door until the cabin floods as there's too much pressure on the door for you to open it. The headrest on most modern cars come off and can be used to shatter a window, go for passenger windows not windshields. Seconds count so start working the moment the car hits the water.

[shortster]

I know the tricks to it; but to implement them successfully in a high stress situation and do so with enough time to get back to the surface in an unknown depth of water. That is a question I hope to never have to find out the answer to.

[flautistnaturist]

https://www.amazon.com/diroya-Emergency-Breaker-Seatbelt-Underwater/dp/B088FYQQWP

[OtterMan68]

let the car fill up with water, smash the window or open the door, but the water was very cold so hypothermia would take over quickly

[DarkWinterNights]

A lot of people who go missing are still in their vehicles at the bottoms of rivers, lakes and inlets. Always have a glass breaker and blade that can cut through your seat belt easily accessible from your drivers seat.

[Slim57]

There's more factors than just having the tools to get out with. So ultimately no one can really know for sure

[TheSpaceGnome]

Prayer is useless (god doesn't exist).

I'd prefer to avoid suspension bridges alltogether if they are built to be that fragile.

[NathanDavis]

yes... I watched all episodes of Myth Busters

[JayBones2469]

Yes. I was a boy scout. I have a window breaker and practiced this drill dozens of times.

[Agape93]

Yeah. My knife has a glass breaker.