The Wilderness Medical Society advises a considerably different protocol in escaping a sinking car. First, quickly unbuckle yourself, then unbuckle your kids and get them into the front seat with you. Roll down your window push your kids out (or pull them with you if they are too small). Do not waste time opening a door...climb out the window. Electrical systems will continue to work underwater. They are designed that way. It takes less than a minute to evacuate a family of four THROUGH THE WINDOW.Do not wait for your car to sink. A car that falls into water will float wheels side down due the weight of the chassis. Most cars can float up to three minutes. Again...go out the window. Submitted by a wilderness physician.

The electrial system of a car does not continue to work under water just ask any auto technican. After the bridge collaspe I was wondering how people could get out of their car if it went into the water so I asked numerous auto technicans (mechanics) and all said that an electrical system in a car works the same as the electrical system in your house, add water to short out.

I've seen the research that proves that the electronics continue to work up to 15 minutes after the car is completely submerged...I've seen the underwater video. You need to trust the scientists on this. LY

The problem Lynn is that the scientists most likely didn't factor in that the electronics can get damaged in the crash which WILL change the amount of time the electronics will work. Believe me, I've been there, they don't work!

Thank you for mentioning how to get out with your kids. I have a two year old and twin 16 months year old girls. it is always in my mind how i would get out, god forbid this ever happened. thank you for the advice.

There is an inexpensive tool available that is essentially a pointed hammer that also has a sharp blade inserted in a slot. The blade is used to cut through jammed safety belts, and the hammer is used to break out the glass of a window that is stuck in the up position. Every car should have one.

I have a "punch" on my key chain to do the same job (breaking glass). It is a spring-loaded sharp metal pin in a plastic housing. You press it against the window and it pushes back and then snaps forward to shatter the glass. I looked at the hammers and the issue seems to be where to put it so that it will be easily available in a crash.

The one I bought is called a ResQMe. It has two pieces, the punch (and seatbelt cutter) pulls away from the chain with little force so I won't have to fumble with the keys.