There are few things more terrifying than the experience of feeling your car submerge. Water creeps in through every crack, pooling around your ankles and seeping up toward your knees. No matter what temperature it is outside, your heart is hammering so fast that the water will always feel freezing cold. Through your windshield you can see the water rising, and your air is running out. Recently the Mythbusters put it to the test. In season 5, originally aired January 24, 2007, Adam Savage buckled himself into a Ford Taurus, then tried to get out as the car was submerged and the water kept rising. A rescue diver was on hand in case things got out of hand. Very quickly, they did.The first thing Adam discovered was that once the water was past his ankles, he could no longer open the car door. The water pressure outside was just too strong. Even by bracing against the opposite side and pushing with all possible leverage, he could not get the car door open once the water inside was past his knees, when the water outside was already past the windows.Next he tried to open the side window. Once the outside water reached the side of the door, this proved to be impossible. The electronics did not short out, but the pressure against the door was too strong. It actually broke the mechanism! He didn’t have enough strength to open a manually-controlled window. The window crank broke first.Then he tried to break the windshield and side windows with everything in the car, including keys, a cellphone, even trying to kick them out with steel-toed boots. It didn’t work. Windshield glass is safety glass, specially designed not to shatter to protect you in accidents. Side windows are tempered glass, which have a better chance of giving way but probably won’t.The first time Adam was submerged, he ran out of air because he started getting desperate to get out. It turned out there was enough air to escape even after the car had sunk all the way. However, he had to wait until the car was completely submerged and there was enough water on both sides to equalize the pressure. At that point the door opened easily and he was able to hold his breath and swim out.The number one rule which came out of this test? DON’T PANIC! It will be cold and dark, and it will get colder and darker. Force yourself to breathe slowly and steadily, keep your plan of escape clear in your mind, and act.First, try to escape as quickly as possible, before the car has time to submerge at all. Most cars will bob briefly before starting to sink. These are valuable seconds. Use them.If you can’t get out before the water has started to rise, open the window immediately, even before you unbuckle your seat belt. This is your way out, if you can manage to get it open.If you can’t get the window open, keep forcing yourself to breathe steadily and calmly to conserve your air. This won’t be easy, but your survival depends on it. Know that the moment the water pressure equalizes, the door will open easily, but you will have to wait until you are almost submerged to do so. If you try to do it too soon, you will run out of air. If you wait, you should have just enough air, holding your breath, to get out and reach the surface.If you live in an area with many low-lying roads, it is a good idea to keep a window punch or special window-breaking hammer (which has a point at one end) in the car. These tools are custom-designed to break safety glass.According to the American Automobile Association, an estimated 11,000 cars crash into bodies of water every year in the United States. Three hundred people a year die as a result of these accidents. Should you be unfortunate enough for such a crash to happen to you, know what to do, and survive. Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil