PSA:This Is The Easiest Way To Escape A Sinking Vehicle. Knowing HOW Might Save Your Life Some Day

[elleng]

http://www.globetoday.com/this-is-the-easiest-way-a-sinking-vehicle-knowing-how-might-save-your-life-some-day/

[Peace Patriot]

1. Thank you! Car sinking in water? Open the window! Unhook seat belt.

Then get out, fast. Window won't open? Carry one of those tools that will break it instantly. Or break it with something. And get out, fast!

DO NOT STAY IN THE CAR!

Very simple advice. Do not roll up the window for an air bubble. Do not stay in the car. Get out!

Same with kids. Unhook seat belt. Shove 'em out the window, fast.

[tk2kewl]

5. 50 yrs old and i have never owned a car with electric windows

[Jerry442]

2. Mythbusters had an excellent segment on this.

Same conclusion: get out NOW, NOW, NOW!

Even trained divers/stunt men knowing they were in a simulation, with a rescue diver at their elbow usually couldn't get out of the car in time any other way.

[Solly Mack]

3. Living in a state where flooding is likely (we flooded again today)

this information is appreciated!

[passiveporcupine]

4. Well, that is really scary

Because a lot of older people are not able to move fast enough to get out of the car, and maybe physically not able to get out a window anyway. It would be very difficult for me. Especially with water rushing against you...powerful water forces on weak and disabled people.

And now I've seen how fast the car sinks, it's even scarier than I'd ever imagined.




I guess I just better make sure I never end up driving into water. I know better than to drive through high flood water. So many people do that, thinking they can "make it through"

[burrowowl]

6. K&R!!!!!!

Have a sharp chisel and hammer in car near your seat to break window if the windows are electrically operated.

[csziggy]

13. One of those tools they show is better

The original ones are called LifeHammer but there are many imitations. They work, as shown in the video. In addition, most are made with a seat belt cutter part so if you can't unhook the seat belt you can get free.

http://www.amazon.com/LifeHammer-Original-Emergency-Hammer-Orange/dp/B000BN3A4Y

[bemildred]

7. One reason I dislike electric windows. nt

[NutmegYankee]

8. They still work underwater in fresh water.

The electrical wiring will still get power to the motor to open the window even if wet. They can't open against the pressure differential if submerged, but then neither can crank Windows.

[bemildred]

9. Cranks work with a dead battery and cranks fail a lot less.

My truck (165K miles) is on it's 4th or 5th (I forget) power window motor and they both don't work at the moment.

[NutmegYankee]

10. While true, people like the convenience.

And in a flooding scenario, the odds that both the driver and passenger window motors would fail (from previously working) at that exact moment are infinitesimally low.

By law the front windows must be working to be a street legal vehicle in proper working order.

[bemildred]

11. I like the convenience of not having to fix it.

I'm not particularly worried about getting caught in floods, although it can be a real problem.

I have two old cars, the other one's windows work, and in any case I will have to drive the truck to the mechanic to get it fixed, I replaced the relay and it worked for a while, then both stopped, which is new, so I'll have to get someone knowledgeable to look at it.

[shanti]

15. it's EXPENSIVE

to replace a power window motor! my driver side window has been non-operable for about 3 years now. i suspect it has something to do with my battery draining completely after only a year, 3 new batteries in 4 years is not right. the dealer/auto electric people want about $4-500 to replace it!!! knowing that it's not street legal, i may have to fix it now, ugh.

[bemildred]

16. Yeah, the dealers like it when things break, not a problem for them.

Hence, the attitude you see up there talking to me about it. Basically, if you aren't well-off, you should not have a car. Cars are not for everybody.

The other thing is mechanics don't like to work on them. It's not "interesting work" and it's easy to go over on the time allowed for it.

I bought the motors for around 60$, it takes a hour or two. I 've replaced the regulator (the thing that pushes the window up and down) once too, the teeth stripped. That was more expensive.

The way it is now, I replaced the relay again, and it's still both windows dead, and so I figure it's a wiring problem, or at least it needs someone who knows how the wiring works better than I do.

Even if they ticket you, it's just a fixit ticket, but then you gotta do it.

[shanti]

20. thank you

i'm now looking for a cheaper option!

[EX500rider]

18. You should be able to get that done a lot cheaper....

...the dealer is always over priced.
I got the window motors for my Ford Focus for $80 at AutoZone and found a ad on CraigsList that did window motor replacement for $100.

[FSogol]

22. Mrs FSogol drives a Jeep Liberty and I've replaced the power window motor

on two of the windows. The replacement regulator/motor costs $80 and it takes about a hour to replace. Of course the Jeep dealer wants $495 to do the job which I why I did it myself. Check youtube. There are video directions and it isn't that hard.

[Egnever]

12. Seriously people roll up their windows and hope for an air bubble?

That just seems crazy to me.

[pediatricmedic]

17. I blame some movies and TV shows for this

The main character or hero always has an air bubble to breath in till they can calmly swim out. Wouldn't be a good show if it showed them drowning in a minute or two.

[smirkymonkey]

14. Good to know!

Thanks!

[Demsrule86]

19. Thanks for this

It may save a life.

[former9thward]

21. They left out the best way out.

It is through the windshield. The windshield is the least secure window on a car and it is held there by practically nothing. One only need to give it a kick and it will come out. Also it is the easiest to get out because it is the largest space.

[Skittles]

23. they neglected to advise one thing

*KNOW HOW TO SWIM*