Less than one-half of one percent of all car accidents end in the water. Still, in the off chance it happens to you, knowing what to do can save your life. First, don’t wait for help—you usually have under two minutes to get out and rescue crews won’t be able to reach you in time. So, start by unfastening your seat belt. That may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many times rescuers have to do that for people, says auto expert Lauren Fix, author of Lauren Fix’s Guide To Loving Your Car, Everything You Need to Know to Take Charge of Your Car and Get On with Your Life. Then, before the electricity shorts out, roll down the window and climb out. If the car has already begun to sink, climb into the back seat and break the rear window to get out. “Because the engine is the heaviest part of the car, the front is the first to sink, so you’ll have more time if you escape from the back.” Window won’t roll down? Don’t try to open the door; not only is it difficult to do, which will waste precious seconds, opening it causes water to rush in, which can make the car flip over. Instead, kick out a side window—which, unlike the windshield, will shatter upon impact—and aim for its weakest spot: the upper corner.
Tip: Make a quick exit with the ResQMe keychain, which has a spring-loaded metal spike that breaks your car window and a stainless steel blade that cuts jammed seatbelts if you’re trapped in your vehicle. ($16.80 for two, amazon.com)
[photo: au_tiger01]
