Escape a sinking car

The UK is full of rivers, streams and waterways, and although the chances of flooding are normally predicted well in advance, as a driver you need to be prepared for any eventuality.

For not only can a flash flood leave you trapped in your car, but also an accident on the road could push your car into a waterway or off a bridge, where you will need to escape from your car as quickly as possible. Here are some pointers to try and remember if you ever find yourself trapped in a sinking or flooded car:

Don’t panic

Easier said than done, but panicking is the last thing you should do. A calm and considered approach will actually help you get out of a tricky situation faster.

Know the facts

For example, a vehicle sinks at a 45 degree angle, due to its engine and weight distribution. Knowing details like this can help drivers to plan how to escape and where best to exit the vehicle.

Plan for disaster

Nobody wants to sit down and work out a bunch of worst case scenarios, after all isn’t that what motor insurance companies are for? But should you find yourself in a sinking car, your car insurance broker most probably won’t be on hand to dish out good advice, so work out the best escape routes now.

Open the windows

As soon as you see that your car is going to go under water, open as many windows as possible. Once the car is submerged you won’t be able to open the doors until car is also filled with water...not a good idea either. If you have a sunroof, then you will have a

Seatbelts

If your car looks and feels like it’s about to float away, then keeping your seatbelt on is good idea, but if you know your car is sinking then get out of your seatbelt as fast as possible to avoid being trapped in it under water.