Death by drowning in a vehicle is relatively rare in the UK, with Road Casualties Great Britain recording 33 accidents in 2005 involving a car being submerged in water.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) also showed there were more than 100 accidental drownings, averaging about 20 victims, between 2000-2005. The best way to avoid a situation is to always drive at a reasonable speed, adjusting to the weather conditions, planning journeys in advance and never going behind the wheel when you’re tired.
It’s also incredibly important to wear a seatbelt, which will decrease the chances of a serious injury if you do crash. However, it’s still important to keep in mind what you should do if you do end up in the devastating situation of your vehicle being submerged in water. Driving expert Hermione has shared “three sentences” you should remember if your car accidentally ends up in water, which will help you “escape from danger quickly”.
Taking to her TikTok page @driver_hermione, the expert explained if the water hasn’t yet flowed over the windows, you should leave any valuables, open the door and escape immediately. However, advice does differ on this, as the RoSPA says opening a car door while sinking allows the water to flow in, making the vehicle flow inside quicker. Instead, you should open a window.
However, if the water has risen above the car window, you probably won’t be able to open it due to the pressure. “And the electrical appliances in the car will also short circuit,” Hermione added.
In this case, you should find something to break the window, as force alone won’t help due to the thickness of the glass. Hermione recommends pulling out the headrest, and using the sharp metal rods to “lift up” the bottom of the car window with force. This will cause the window to shatter.
In a worst case scenario, where you can’t open the window, Hermione recommends people to climb to the backseat, because the heavy parts of the car, such as the engine, is in the front, making that part sink first. “The front of the car will sink first and the rear of the car will rise,” she explained.
If this happens, Hermione says you can press the button to fold down one of the seats so you can climb into the trunk. There should be a button on the backdoor which will open it from the inside.
However, it’s worth remembering advice on this differs too. The AA says you should stay near the front, as there’s more chance of escaping through the windows. However, Kids and Car Safety says: “An SUV or van hatchback door will be the last to go under water. If you can open the hatchback door, everyone can exit through the rear opening.”
The AA also has further advice on how to escape a sinking car. They explained: “Release your seatbelt and open the windows. Windows are the best exit point if a car is underwater.
“If there are children in the car, free them and get them out first. It will take one to two minutes for the car to fill up, breathe deeply and prepare to swim. Once out swim to the surface, take care in the water as there might be debris floating around.”
If the electric windows aren’t working, you’ll need to break them. The AA explained: “At the base of the headrest are the two metal prongs that adjust the height of the headrest, these are shaped to aid breaking a window. Hold the headrest firmly with the prongs directed at the window.”
Alternatively, you can use the buckle of the seatbelt, which may take longer, but it will weaken the window. If there aren’t any heavy objects, use your body as a last resort, as this could cause harm.
They concluded: “Remember to remain calm, remove your seatbelt and find an escape through a window or sunroof. By keeping these steps in mind, you can increase your chances of getting out safely.”