If you are in a car that goes into and under very deep water, what is the safest action to take?

Houdini

Open the window slightly to allow water to gradually come in as you will not be able to open the door until the car has almost filled up. Then take a deep breath, open the door or window fully and make your escape. Jan 03 03, 5:25 PM

sequoianoir

I disagree. A recent TV program tried to answer this dilemma by dropping cars from various heights into various depths of water. Actually a swimming pool. Behind the wheel was an experienced diver (that's DIVER NOT DRIVER) but without any of the scuba gear. Other divers were in the water to help if the situation became serious. Providing you are conscious and the impact has not smashed most of the windows anyway: After several experiments it became clear the best option was to open the windows as far as possible as soon as possible. The further down below the surface the car is when the windows are opened causes an ever increasing problem with the increased pressure. Once out of the car (if you actually get out) it is much further and longer to get to the surface and safety. Once the car sinks below about 20 or 30 feet it is highly likely that the windows will implode and you will have no control over the rate at which it fills with water. If you can get out of the car before this happens or it comes to rest on the bottom, the better the chance you have. Jan 03 03, 5:44 PM

Houdini

No wonder I am dead Jan 03 03, 5:52 PM

Barrow boy

The tv programme was BBC's '999', and sequoianoir has answered it very accurately. Jan 03 03, 7:57 PM