Can You Open a Car Door Underwater? [Here’s What to Know!]

With the advent of more safety features and driver’s aids, cars are undoubtedly safer. However, knowing what to do in the event of an accident still serves as an added layer of protection. For instance, we may not often think about whether or not we can open a car’s door underwater, but knowing the answer to this may spell the difference between life and death.

You can open a car door underwater, but you must wait until it is fully submerged. As the car sinks, the intense water pressure outside the vehicle will keep you from opening the doors. You’ll stand a better chance of opening the doors once the water fills the car.

This article will further explain what keeps a car’s door from opening when submerged. Keep reading to learn what else you can do to escape a car sinking in the water.   

Opening a Car’s Door Underwater

Getting trapped inside a sinking vehicle is a terrifying thought. But those who have experienced such an ordeal probably never thought something terrible would happen. Whether a car runs off the road or encounters a flash flood, the occupants have a better chance of survival if they understand how difficult it is to open a car’s door underwater.  

Some vehicles have an Automatic Window Opening System (AWOS) that rolls a car’s window down when it detects water. However, the AWOS system only works if you submerge the vehicle in an upright position. But since a vehicle’s weight distribution is uneven, there’s a significant chance of the vehicle sinking at an angle.

We may naturally waste time trying to open the door if we get trapped in a sinking car. Knowing how hard it is to open a car’s door underwater can save us precious time and energy; time and energy you could use doing something else to escape.  

What Keeps the Car’s Door From Opening Underwater?

According to an article on washingtonpost.com, the water pressure outside a sinking car can reach 600 pounds per square inch. Given the surface area of a car’s door, imagine the strength required to get it to budge, let alone open.  

As the car sinks, the water outside will rise faster than inside due to the enclosed cabin. Since the water level increases more quickly outside the vehicle, it causes a massive disparity between the water pressure inside and outside the car. 

You will not be able to open the door until the water pressure on both sides of the door is the same. Imagine trying to open a house door if someone was leaning against it on the other side. It would be much easier for you to open the door if another person pushed the door with you with the same force as the person on the other side.  

The water pressure inside and outside a submerged car will only be equal once the water fills the car’s interior. So, you will only be able to open the door once you have no air left to breathe.  

The motoring show, Top Gear demonstrated how difficult it is to get out of a sinking car. Watch the videos below to see how long it takes for water pressure to equalize inside and outside the vehicle. 

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqEa3OJIG0s

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-hADcZ49fE

Also, watch the video below where the instructor showcases what happens when your car gets submerged and what you need to do to get out!

Will Electronic Door Locks Work Underwater?

Many modern cars have electronic door locks instead of the mechanical ones you pull up and down. The latch of the car’s door is still mechanical, but the fact that we control most of them electronically begs the question of whether you can still unlock the doors underwater.

Fortunately, manufacturers design many electronic doors locks to unlock automatically in the event of a collision. Hopefully, the impact of the water will trigger the doors to open. Other cars with electronic locks have manual overrides.

To learn more about cars locking automatically, check out my other article on this topic.

You can check your owner’s manual or consult your vehicle’s manufacturer for more information.

How To Survive a Sinking Car?

Almost 400 people die each year from accidental drownings in vehicles. As difficult as it may seem to survive in a sinking car, knowing what you should and shouldn’t do will significantly increase your chances of survival.

What You Shouldn’t Do in a Sinking Car?

Naturally, you would want to jump into action if you find yourself in a sinking car. However, there are many things you can do that would make a difficult situation worse.

Here are the things you should not do to increase your chances of survival.

1. Don’t Panic if Your Car Is in the Water

It’s easier said than done, but try your best not to panic as water fills your car. If you panic, you will significantly decrease the likelihood of reaching dry land again.

You can avoid panic by inhaling slowly and deeply through your nose and exhaling out of your mouth. Of course, you should take in as much air as possible before fully submerging. Overcome panic by focusing on what you must do to get out of the situation.

2. Don’t Unbuckle Your Seatbelt

You may think it will save you time and give you more flexibility to unbuckle your seatbelt as the car hits the water, but you should never unbuckle your seatbelt until you have a way out.

If you don’t strap yourself in—you may sustain serious injury when the car impacts the water. Furthermore, the water in the vehicle will cause you to move around inside the car and make it harder for you to find a way out.  

The only time you should unbuckle your seatbelt is after you find an opening you can pass through.  

3. Don’t Try To Call Emergency Services

Every second in a sinking car is critical, and you should not waste the short time you have to call emergency services.

If you’re lucky enough to get in touch with a dispatcher, you may not have enough time to explain your situation or provide essential details. And even if they send emergency services your way—the chance of rescuing you before you run out of breath is severely low.

Rather than calling for help, do everything you can in those last few seconds to save yourself.

4. Don’t Waste Time and Energy Trying To Open the Door

We’ve established how difficult it is to open the door in a sinking car. Aside from the fact that it’s impossible to overpower the strength of the water pressure, you don’t want to waste your energy doing something that will not save you. Save your energy doing what you can to make it out of there.

What You Should Do To Open a Car Door Underwater?

Now you know what you shouldn’t do, let’s focus on the actions you can take to help you escape. What you do in the first few seconds will be critical to your survival. Failure to heed the correct steps in this situation will make it more challenging to make it out of the car, which can be fatal.

1. Roll Down Your Car Window Before Your Car Submerges

The best way to get out of a sinking vehicle is through the window. It would be best if you tried to roll the window down before the water reaches the car’s belt line. Cars generally have a flat bottom, which should keep the vehicle afloat and give you a few seconds to roll your window down before the water gets deeper.

The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to open the window.

2. Break the Car Window 

If you cannot open the window before the water level passes the car’s belt line, the water pressure will push against it and make it extremely difficult to open. At this point, you need to break the glass.  

Remember that the windshield has thicker glass, so you should try breaking the side windows. Aim for the corner of the window since that’s the weakest point.

You can remove the headrest and use the metal posts to try and break the glass. However, it will be highly challenging to exert the force to smash the window once submerged. Fortunately, some tools are designed explicitly for breaking windows in these situations.

The Wonder Point Car Glass Breaker (available on amazon.com) is made of solid aluminum alloy and features a non-slip grip, making it an essential tool for emergencies. It also has a seatbelt cutter in case the seatbelt gets stuck during an accident.

As the saying goes, it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. 

3. Wait Until the Water Fills the Cabin Before Opening the Door

You should do your best to get out of the vehicle by rolling the window down or breaking the glass because you may not be able to hold your breath long enough to wait for the water pressure to equalize.

Opening the car’s door should be done as a last resort, and don’t become impatient by trying to open the door if there is significant resistance.  

If you have no other option, wait until the water fills the car’s interior before attempting to open the door. Otherwise, you will wear yourself out.  

Inhale as much air as you can before your face is underwater. You will have to wait until the water reaches the headliner or top of the door frame before the pressure is equal enough to open the door.