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Driving safety guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
How to Escape a Sinking Car
A car that goes into the water usually floats for several minutes before it sinks. Here is how to use that time to get everyone out, why you should not open a door, and how to avoid driving into flood water in the first place, according to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and the National Weather Service.
Minutesa car usually floats
Windownot the door
Roofthen call 911
12 in.of rushing water can carry away most cars
The short answer
Act right away: unbuckle, open a window, free the children and move everyone forward, then climb out the window and onto the roof. Call 911 from the roof and look for dry land. Do not try to open a door, swim only as a last resort, and never go back for belongings.
You usually have a few minutes
The Indiana Driver's Manual says a vehicle that plunges into water will usually float for several minutes before sinking. That gives the driver and passengers time to escape through an open window while the vehicle is still on the surface.
Do not try to open a door. The manual says the weight of the water makes a door nearly impossible to open, and an open door lets water flood the passenger compartment.
From the Indiana Driver's Manual (Indiana BMV), Chapter 8, read November 10, 2026.
How to escape a sinking car, step by step
The manual lists these guidelines if your vehicle plunges into water:
- Remove your seat belt.
- Open a window. Automatic windows will open unless the impact is so severe that it damages the electrical system.
- Get the children out. Free children from rear seat belts and child restraints, asking older children to help the younger ones. Move passengers to the front seats as calmly as possible.
- Exit and move to the roof. This keeps you as dry as possible, and even in moving water you can ride the vehicle like a boat for a short time.
- Call 911 from the roof and locate the nearest dry land.
- Swim for shore only as a last resort. If help has not arrived by the time the vehicle sinks below the waterline, you may be forced to swim.
- Never go back in to gather possessions.
From the Indiana Driver's Manual (Indiana BMV), Chapter 8, read November 10, 2026.
What not to do
Do not open the door
Water pressure makes it nearly impossible, and the open door floods the cabin.
Do not wait
The car usually floats for several minutes. Use that time to get out through a window while it is on the surface.
Do not swim first
Get on the roof and call for help. The manual says to swim for shore only as a last resort.
Do not go back
Never re-enter the vehicle to gather possessions.
From the Indiana Driver's Manual (Indiana BMV), Chapter 8, read November 10, 2026.
The best escape is not driving into water
The manual says flash flooding causes more deaths than any other roadway weather event each year, and gives these rules:
- Do not drive around traffic barricades or past road closed signs.
- Watch for bridges, culverts and roadbeds that may be washed away or undermined by floodwaters.
- Do not drive where water is over the road; its depth is not always obvious, and it may hide washouts.
- If your car stalls in a flooded area, abandon it as soon as possible, because flood waters can rise rapidly and sweep a car and its occupants away.
The National Weather Service adds that just 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars, and 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks. It reports, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. See our guide to driving through flooded roads.
From the Indiana Driver's Manual (Indiana BMV), Chapter 7, and the National Weather Service, "Turn Around Don't Drown," both read November 10, 2026.
Staying on the road
Keeping the car on the road also matters. If your wheels drift onto the shoulder, the manual says not to turn back onto the pavement right away. Drive along the shoulder, ease up on the gas, and after slowing down, turn back onto the road gradually. Slow down in heavy rain and standing water, and see our guide to hydroplaning.
From the Indiana Driver's Manual (Indiana BMV), Chapters 7 and 8, read November 10, 2026.
Keep your Ford road-ready at Michigan City Ford
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. Good tires and brakes help you stay on the road in heavy rain. Our technicians can check them during your next visit.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 10, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
How to escape a sinking car: FAQ
How long does a car float before it sinks?
The Indiana Driver's Manual says a vehicle that plunges into water will usually float for several minutes before sinking, which allows people to escape through an open window while it is still on the surface.
Should you open the door if your car goes into water?
No. The manual says the weight of the water makes a door nearly impossible to open, and an open door lets water flood the passenger compartment. Get out through a window.
Will power windows still open?
The manual says automatic windows will open unless the impact is so severe that it damages the electrical system. Open a window while the car is still on the surface.
What order should you do things in a sinking car?
Seat belt off, window open, children out of their belts and restraints and moved to the front, then everyone out and onto the roof. Call 911 from the roof and look for the nearest dry land.
Should you swim to shore right away?
No. The manual says to swim for shore only as a last resort, if help has not arrived by the time the vehicle sinks below the waterline. Stay on the roof until then.
How much water can sweep a car away?
The National Weather Service says 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars and 2 feet can carry away SUVs and trucks. Never drive into flood water.
More driving safety guides
See our guides to flooded roads, hydroplaning and night driving, or schedule service at Michigan City Ford.
Sources
Escape steps, flash flood rules and shoulder recovery are from Chapters 7 and 8 of the Indiana Driver's Manual (Indiana BMV), read November 10, 2026; flood water figures are from the National Weather Service, read the same day. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- Indiana Driver's Manual (PDF), Chapters 7 and 8, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), read November 10, 2026
- National Weather Service: Turn Around Don't Drown, National Weather Service (NOAA), read November 10, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026