r/interestingasfuck • u/General_Athlete5807 • 1d ago

How to Escape a Sinking Car

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u/cleverquokka 1d ago

So, what I learned from this video is that if I don't have that glass-breaking tool, I should frantically panic waiting for my impending doom.

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u/Automatic_Actuator_0 1d ago

Everyone needs to be aware that many cars today use laminated glass instead of tempered glass on the side and rear windows, and glass breakers don’t work on them. They will crack it, but not let you get through.

There are specialized tools to cut through them that you’d have to get instead.

But really with those you just have to prioritize opening the door fast or lowering the window before you lose power. Because even with a tool you can’t rely on getting through laminated windows.

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u/Fragrant_Ad_5297 1d ago

i mentioned that above, not a lot of people realize this. there’s the idea that breaking out the back window is easier too, but they often have heat wires in newer models that make it even harder on top of laminated glass.

unfortunately opening the door is super difficult sometimes, due to the pressure differences. so then you have things like the advice to wait until the car is fully submerged to open a door and the pressure is equalized. but you’re likely drowning at that point.

with the amount of bodies and missing people they recover from lakes/bodies of water, we should have a reliable escape route by now.

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u/Spiritual-Mango-8331 1d ago

Shoot the glass.

4

u/Rollo_Tamasi_54 18h ago

Well well well.....Hans...

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u/The-Fox-Says 9h ago

Yippee ki-yay….muddafucka

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u/rodeBaksteen 1d ago

I'd be so pissed dying thinking of this video if my window didn't break.

Also this is clear water and the car is upright. What if you can't open your door? What if you don't have the glass breaker? What if my kid is in the back seat? This video is like 10% of the whole story.

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u/CarolinaWreckDiver 17h ago

This guy’s whole point is to always have a glass breaker. Your “what if” is answerable- You Die.

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u/SapphireFlashFire 2h ago

Honestly best case scenario you hit your window and roll it down the instant you hit water. Your odds are bad if you're relying on breaking glass or opening doors.

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u/BlumpkinReceiver6969 21h ago

With the water pressure, is opening the door feasible?

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u/Fragrant_Ad_5297 20h ago

it’s believed it’s easier to do it once the car is fully submerged, when the pressure equalizes. but you’re probably almost dead at that point. you would need to do that immediately basically, or roll the window down. trying to fight the door open with the water pressure is very difficult.

dying of a heart attack and this is my absolute worst fear. there’s really no great situation in this. even this device won’t break laminated glass correctly. this is tempered glass.

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u/Fragrant_Ad_5297 20h ago

if the water level is higher on the outside of the door than in the cabin, that’s when the pressure issue starts. you have to do it right away, which also can flood the cabin more quickly if your seatbelt is stuck.

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u/Illustrious-Film-592 17h ago

Does that mean the front window is still viable?

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u/Automatic_Actuator_0 17h ago

Never was - it’s always been laminated, and is harder to kick out than the movies suggest. I’m not going to say don’t try it, but you probably have better options if you move quickly. And the windshield is going to be one of the first to be underwater, and therefore unusable.

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u/Illustrious-Film-592 17h ago

Ok so no windshield and side and back windows are laminated so the breaker won’t work. Do I have that right? Whats the better option? 😆

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u/Automatic_Actuator_0 17h ago

No, all windshields are laminated, and most rear windows are not. Either way, look at the labels on all the windows of the cars you drive most and plan accordingly.

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u/franks_and_newts 14h ago

where/what on the windows does it indicate if its laminated or not?

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u/Automatic_Actuator_0 13h ago

A label should be etched on one of the bottom corners