Exactly what to do if your car gets trapped in flood water

Storm Bert has been wreaking havoc in the UK, with danger to life flood warnings in place across the UK. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) says around 20 people in the UK die each year due to their vehicle being submerged in water. That could come as a result of being caught in storm water, or could stem from a car losing control and ending up in a ditch, river or lake.

Experts from Select Car Leasing are urging motorists to be aware of the dangers - and to understand what they need to do if they get trapped in their vehicle with flood water rising rapidly.

Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing, explains some basic steps which could save lives:

If in doubt, turn around

Prevention is always better than cure. If you approach floodwater and you have the slightest concern about its depth, turn around and find another way to your destination. Don’t risk it, even if you’re in a rush to be somewhere. It’s all too easy to underestimate the water’s deadliness.

Trapped in shallow water

If you’ve come to a halt in shallow water, turn off your car’s engine, unbuckle your seatbelt and unlock the doors. If the water isn’t moving quickly, you can see the bottom, and there’s dry land nearby, you can attempt to exit your car and make it to safety. If you’re unsure, it’s best to stay calm, remain in your car, and call for help.

Trapped in deeper water

This is the real nightmare scenario - and it could all unfold surprisingly quickly if you’re caught in floodwater as a result of a river bursting its banks. The first step should be to unbuckle your seatbelt first and to make sure passengers follow suit.

The main thing to remember here is that because of the water pressure pushing against the side of your car, it could be impossible for you to open the door, particularly if the water is moving quickly. Opening the door is also only going to cause cold water to rush into the vehicle anyway. So, in this scenario you need to open a window instead - and fast. If you can, try to wind down the windows, or open the sunroof if you have one, before the electricity supply cuts out.

Smash a side window

If the above isn’t possible, you’re going to need to break the glass. Side windows (tempered glass) are weaker than windscreens (which are laminated) so focus your attention there. If you’re struggling to break the glass, try removing a headrest and use the metal-pointed ends as a makeshift axe.

I’d urge motorists to invest in an emergency window hammer and seat belt cutter so that you’re prepared for this type of worst case scenario. They’re relatively inexpensive - costing less than £10 on Amazon - but could very well save the lives of you and your passengers. Assist children through the window first, then make your own escape.

The vehicle is sinking

The charity RoSPA suggests that a car will remain afloat for up to 2 minutes in deep water before it sinks - but it may become submerged in as little as 30 seconds, diving down nose first due to the weight of the engine. RoSPA also points out that because cars are not airtight there will be no air bubble to help you survive underwater, so that’s not something you can rely upon. Time is therefore very much of the essence. You need to spring into action the second your car enters the water.

Once you manage to reach the safety of dry land, seek medical attention immediately to cope with the potential effects of hypothermia.