General Discussion

Xithras

(16,191 posts)

131. FYI, Mythbusters tested this

Fri Sep 13, 2013, 05:51 PM

Sep 2013

First, they confirmed that power windows really do still work when the door is submerged. DC motors and switches still work when underwater. So the fear that power windows won't open when partially submerged is meritless.

Second, they found that the windows in a fully submerged car won't open by either electric power OR window crank. The pressure on the glass is too great to permit the window to move. You physically wouldn't have enough strength to turn the crank.

You're much better off with a hammer.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

138 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Woman Distracted by Texting Drives Her Car Into a Lake [View all] onehandle Sep 2013 OP

Oops. Her car insurance premium just doubled. MineralMan Sep 2013 #1

If only there was a lake for every text and driving truedelphi Sep 2013 #2

+1 forestpath Sep 2013 #5

+2 nt riderinthestorm Sep 2013 #9

How do you make this technology affect only the driver... Silent3 Sep 2013 #17

AFFECT. Go back to 4th grade. TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #34

calm down Liberal_in_LA Sep 2013 #39

Why? It is exactly this attitude writ large... TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #43

You're exactly right. Silent3 is responsible for America's foreign policy disasters. Orrex Sep 2013 #62

It's a job. Silent3 Sep 2013 #70

We've made too many compromises already... petronius Sep 2013 #71

WRIT LARGE! The idea that it's easier to give in to petty selfishness... TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #93

That which makes us persons, rather than sacks of dirty, mostly water,... TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #94

I know the difference. I typed it wrong, for Christ's sake. Silent3 Sep 2013 #48

In other words, for most people their convenience... TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #54

Don't start a sentence with "and". Go back to 3rd grade. JBoy Sep 2013 #53

Know when to break the rules for proper affect. /nt TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #56

Meh. "And really." is not quite the zinger you might think it is. Quantess Sep 2013 #60

Wasn't meant to be. Merely a segue. /nt TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #110

Grrrr...! You misspelled segway! Quantess Sep 2013 #114

Since you clearly know how to pronounce the word, that's a troll fail. /nt TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #115

It's called humor, son. Quantess Sep 2013 #116

EFFECT! go back to second grade! unblock Sep 2013 #101

just great!!! GalaxyHunter Sep 2013 #108

Affect correctly used as a verb: Look it up. Troll successful. TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #109

"for proper affect", you're saying you used "affect" as a verb there? unblock Sep 2013 #111

I did. Though I must admit, I at first thought I had screwed up. TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #113

hmm. i must use fork for proper eat. i must use melody for proper sing. unblock Sep 2013 #117

add an 'ing' to 'eat' and 'sing' and you'll have proper, albeit awkward... TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #118

yes, use a noun (or a gerund) instead of a verb and it works there. unblock Sep 2013 #119

Jesus H. Frankenstein Trajan Sep 2013 #126

Hey, twenty years ago customerserviceguy Sep 2013 #42

You're recommending getting rid of all texting, in all situations? Silent3 Sep 2013 #49

Yes customerserviceguy Sep 2013 #58

We did "fine" without cars too. Why not get rid of them? That solves drunk driving... Silent3 Sep 2013 #67

Texting rather than phone calls will prove extremely valuable the next time WE have a major kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #78

Prius won't let one call or operate map functions unless at a stop abelenkpe Sep 2013 #80

If texting was made to work only in stopped vehicles rurallib Sep 2013 #21

I had not thought of that. truedelphi Sep 2013 #25

And wouldn't it just be the perfect opportunity... TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #35

Note to self: cyclists deserve every consideration, but pedestrians can go fuck themselves Orrex Sep 2013 #65

I'm talking about the self adsorbed idiots who occupy WHOLE paths. TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #75

Wow! Jamastiene Sep 2013 #103

See my response to Orexx above. /nt TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #112

Get rid of texting, period customerserviceguy Sep 2013 #44

I was nearly killed by a driver on a cell phone tabbycat31 Sep 2013 #72

You've just gotten into a bad habit customerserviceguy Sep 2013 #97

I think you're throwing the baby away with the bath water here tabbycat31 Sep 2013 #123

Several states have outlawed people using cell phones while driving. Jenoch Sep 2013 #134

Better yet, turn off the car. RC Sep 2013 #22

+1 000 000 000 kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #76

Why 15 mph? A car doing 15 can certainly kill Jenoch Sep 2013 #133

Yipes shenmue Sep 2013 #3

Look on the bright side: Aristus Sep 2013 #4

I'd be curious to know if she remembers what she was texting, or if it petronius Sep 2013 #45

I'm glad she's okay. HappyMe Sep 2013 #6

Oh come on, apparently unaware of the dangers associated with texting and driving. Jefferson23 Sep 2013 #7

I think it was sarcasm. Shrike47 Sep 2013 #10

I hope you're right..I read that and thought, wtf, she was not aware? lol n/t Jefferson23 Sep 2013 #19

I put on my indicator before turning on a side road today malaise Sep 2013 #28

It is beyond me too..I don't get it since it is painfully obvious such a stupid and dangerous idea. Jefferson23 Sep 2013 #31

I see people like that here in Japan as well Art_from_Ark Sep 2013 #82

They re mentally deranged malaise Sep 2013 #84

She's lucky, we're not customerserviceguy Sep 2013 #46

Airborne for 60 feet in a car ... In_The_Wind Sep 2013 #8

Her next text was. wild bird Sep 2013 #14

Amazingly she had the presence of mind to text "Oh shit" as she was going over the cliff. BlueStreak Sep 2013 #15

LOL. wild bird Sep 2013 #16

The important question no one asked durablend Sep 2013 #11

"Um, let's see, where's that damn 'treading water' app?" lpbk2713 Sep 2013 #12

LOL. I just got a great laugh. Very good. nt. wild bird Sep 2013 #13

Darwin award waiting to happen? JitterbugPerfume Sep 2013 #18

Well at least it is another hyundai off the road snooper2 Sep 2013 #20

Hey! We resemble that remark. Glassunion Sep 2013 #79

texting = dui, without the penalties nt markiv Sep 2013 #23

They should fine her for polluting the lake! B Calm Sep 2013 #24

For this reason, the word HillWilliam Sep 2013 #26

I really hope that her insurance doesn't cover this! SeattleVet Sep 2013 #27

she got off lucky Skittles Sep 2013 #29

I hate to seem insensitive, but at least it wasn't the other way around, with the kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #81

oh absolutely Skittles Sep 2013 #95

Reminds me of the texting mall lady: Nye Bevan Sep 2013 #30

LOL! redwitch Sep 2013 #64

This is a little bit of a separate issue, but shouldn't cars Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #32

Good luck on that. Invest in one or two of these. TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #36

I've thought about that, but car manufacturers can Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #37

They were removed to free up money for... TheMadMonk Sep 2013 #40

Then the government should require the manufacturers to put them back. Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #41

If its people who text while driving customerserviceguy Sep 2013 #47

Wrecking your car in the water doesn't happen solely because of texting. Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #74

Did they crash and drown because of fog? Glassunion Sep 2013 #85

Fog was a contributing factor but it really makes no difference as to why someone crashes Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #86

How many situations should a car have to be prepared for? Glassunion Sep 2013 #87

It isn't rocket science to put a manual override on electric windows. Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #89

Just buy a car with manual windows. Glassunion Sep 2013 #91

Good for you if don't live near water, cross bridges over water or experience flash flooding but Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #99

You are concerned for 10's of millions of drivers that drive near water. Glassunion Sep 2013 #120

How big is the issue? 384 drownings is more than two Oklahoma City Bombings every year. Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #124

I hate to sound harsh, but yes, it is quite miniscule. Glassunion Sep 2013 #129

No it will cost car buyers $120 per car, and cars don't need to be retrofitted Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #132

I am not dodging the question Glassunion Sep 2013 #138

My truck has manual windows, Mugu Sep 2013 #92

After you explain how to operate roll down manual windows, can those people grasp the concept Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #100

In reality, the chances of actually winding up in SheilaT Sep 2013 #57

It can and does happen either because of flash floods, bridge collapses, and any Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #73

This could help abelenkpe Sep 2013 #83

Yes but that has complications as well. Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #90

Side and back car windows tend to be made of tempered glass, these days. Buns_of_Fire Sep 2013 #107

If you have seconds to exit, you and/or family, children, maybe an infant Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #125

Oh, I agree. Just rolling down the window is always preferable (and easier). Buns_of_Fire Sep 2013 #136

I agree it's good to have a Pland B and Plan C for that matter. Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #137

LOL. Yeah. Cranks windows is the inevitable solution to texting while driving. Romulox Sep 2013 #102

Apparently the "seperate issue" part went over your head, not to mention you didn't read Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #104

They should not add crank windows to all cars in case someone drives into the water while texting. Romulox Sep 2013 #122

You're relatively intelligent Romulox, I know you're not that dense. Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #127

Changing the world to make texting while driving (into a body of water!) safer is absurd. nt Romulox Sep 2013 #128

I stand corrected, you are that dense. Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #130

FYI, Mythbusters tested this Xithras Sep 2013 #131

That's not what this link suggests. Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #135

Since no one lost their life ... or was seriously injured etherealtruth Sep 2013 #33

How is it good? Orrex Sep 2013 #66

good thing it was a lake and not people. dionysus Sep 2013 #38

Just today as I was driving in the middle lane of a three vanlassie Sep 2013 #50

This is why I use a waterproof phone case jberryhill Sep 2013 #51

IT CAN WAIT. DreamGypsy Sep 2013 #52

OMG gopiscrap Sep 2013 #55

Something about stupid games and stupid prizes. nt Democracyinkind Sep 2013 #59

Well she went for a swim davidpdx Sep 2013 #61

Natural selection. nt LWolf Sep 2013 #63

I text, but PasadenaTrudy Sep 2013 #68

Refreshing experience jsr Sep 2013 #69

I'm glad Glassunion Sep 2013 #77

Don't people know that texting while driving is just begging the Vengeful Gods of Darwin... 47of74 Sep 2013 #88

Are all Maryland lakes that shallow? B Calm Sep 2013 #96

There are a couple cars somewhere in my area shedevil69taz Sep 2013 #98

Ditto... Glassunion Sep 2013 #121

Good. lumberjack_jeff Sep 2013 #105

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2013 #106