SADNESS WARNING: Mother of 2 drowns in vehicle; has chance to talk to husband before being submerged - Polidicks

[QUOTE=Why485;44205515]Waiting for the car to fill up with water is easier said than done. Both in Mythbusters and in this video they didn't always have enough time between their last breath and being able to open the door. The best thing you can do is try to open the door immediately after hitting the water. Opening the window is another option, but it's something you have to do immediately. Once the water starts pressing up against the glass it'll be impossible to open. This is a very real problem in Florida. At least in the areas I've lived, you can't drive for 5 minutes without coming across either a pond or canal. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdqrduxK9To[/media][/QUOTE] Why the fuck didn't these two unfasten their seatbelts and immediately move to the back of the car, since the front of the car goes underwater first. I'd definitely move to the back as soon as I'd be in a body of water.

[QUOTE=SEKCobra;44201818]You can break car windows all the same underwater. High heels, or really any pointed object can break the glass with ease, a center punch just makes it incredibly easy.[/QUOTE] What about that video of the kid trying to make a demonstration video about car burglaries and he kept hitting the window over and over and it refuses to break

why didnt the car float

The only way a car would float is if it was sealed so that no water could get in. That's pretty much impossible to guarantee in a passenger vehicle. That's why you have to act decisively while the vehicle is filling with water. You can't afford to sit there thinking about who you're going to call for help. By the time help arrives you'll be drowned.

[QUOTE=cecilbdemodded;44214234]The only way a car would float is if it was sealed so that no water could get in. That's pretty much impossible to guarantee in a passenger vehicle. That's why you have to act decisively while the vehicle is filling with water. You can't afford to sit there thinking about who you're going to call for help. By the time help arrives you'll be drowned.[/QUOTE] By definition, the cabin air vents need to ... vent to the outside? So that's primarily where the water gets in. Factor in door seals that perhaps weren't designed for submersion, etc.

[QUOTE=Kylel999;44214038]What about that video of the kid trying to make a demonstration video about car burglaries and he kept hitting the window over and over and it refuses to break[/QUOTE] Was he hitting it with a NOT POINTED OBJECT?

This is tough, damn. Thanks for all the info here, I'm sure i'll put it to extensive use

[QUOTE=SEKCobra;44220246]Was he hitting it with a NOT POINTED OBJECT?[/QUOTE] It wasn't really the object, it was the kid. The guy who worked at the junkyard was able to do it easily with the same tool, but the reporter had to do like twenty something takes if I remember correctly.

[QUOTE=catbarf;44204352]Breaking the window before the car fills is not exactly the best idea considering the pressure will force not only all the water in, but now broken shards of glass as well. Directly at you. Those window-breaking tools are meant to be used after the car is full of water, if you can't get the door open.[/QUOTE] Car windows are made out of safety-glass, they crumble and usually don't have too many sharp edges. It would still be extremely uncomfortable though, but it would slow down as soon as the pressure equalizes which would happen relatively quickly with an opening of that size. [URL="https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%281m+*+%289.81m%2Fs^2%29+*+%28density+of+water%29+%2F+%281%2F2+*+density+of+water%29%29^1%2F2&dataset=&asynchronous=false&equal=Submit"]I just calculated it[/URL], the stable velocity at a depth of 1m would be around 4.5m/s, rising with the square root. [URL="http://www.angio.net/personal/climb/speed"]This is (not so incidentally) the same speed you'd have after falling that distance[/URL], so while it would hurt it's probably not enough for a serious injury. [editline]14th March 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=DeeCeeTeeBee;44201478]Despite living in the middle of a very urban city, I know two different people who keep those window-smashing-hammer-things in their cars out of fear of things like this. If people were a little bit more paranoid, things like this could be avoided. Pushing open a door is very difficult underwater, due to pressure differences.[/QUOTE] I've been meaning to buy one, despite going somewhere by car about one a month. I read some survival instructions about this in a kids magazine when I was younger and still dislike travelling alongside water in an enclosed cabin for this exact reason.

[QUOTE=Proj3ct_ZeRo;44206766]I have a short breaker bar in my glove box I use for changing tyres, it would probably be my go to thing if this happened to me, I highly doubt the window would hold up against it. [IMG]http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_14232.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] you're best bet is to use that to crush the ceramic of a sparkplug and make ninja stones, and start throwing those at the window

Jesus christ this is terrible. Also really freaky because I also live in St Petersburg and drive a 2003 Honda Odyssey. [editline]14th March 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=viperfan7;44232193]you're best bet is to use that to crush the ceramic of a sparkplug and make ninja stones, and start throwing those at the window[/QUOTE] How are you supposed to get your spark plugs from the engine when you're in the cabin and the car is sinking?

[QUOTE=Proj3ct_ZeRo;44206766]I have a short breaker bar in my glove box I use for changing tyres, it would probably be my go to thing if this happened to me, I highly doubt the window would hold up against it. [IMG]http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_14232.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Keep it to the left of your driver seat, between the floor frame and seat, or under the seat. Because when the car is sinking in a pond and water is rushing in at incredible rates, you may not have time to open the glove box, frisk for the breaker, and then promptly use it. Especially if the water is freezing cold, freezing water shocks the brain and muscles, making clear thought and motion extremely difficult. And you've still gotta remove the seat belt, help any passengers, and gtfo. Seems like you might be able to survive, but a few extra seconds can be all thats needed to take your life.