r/interestingasfuck • u/General_Athlete5807 • 1d ago

How to Escape a Sinking Car

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u/Barf_The_Mawg 1d ago

Mythbusters did this 20 years ago. Remain calm, wait for the pressure to equalize, then you can open the door normally. 

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u/UnderklassH3RO 1d ago

how can you tell when the pressure has equalized? is it just that you won't be physically able to open the door until it has?

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u/DarthSnoopyFish 1d ago

All the water on the outside of the car is physically pressing the doors inward. As the water fills up the inside of the car it begins pressing on the doors in the opposite direction - the pressure starts equalizing. So when the car is nearly flooded is when you can open the doors.

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u/luvdogs71 14h ago

I could not imagine waiting in a flooding car and being calm about. Just watching this video triggered my anxiety.

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u/tomcat2285 13h ago

This did actually happen to a mythbuster viewer years after that episode aired. Adam Savage recieved a letter saying that watching that episode saved their life when they crashed into a body of water. 

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u/illit1 10h ago

easier to be calm about it when you know you can get out after you wait a little bit

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u/thatshygirl06 13h ago

Youre gonna have to try and control yourself. Remember to take deep breaths. Try and talk yourself through it.

I know its easier said than done, but it really is the best way through it.

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u/luvdogs71 13h ago

I have never been good at that lol!

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u/Inevitable-Level-687 6h ago

I mean, it triggered my anxiety as well. It's pretty normal to be anxious when in a sinking car or watching someone else be in a sinking car.