Theory Mastery

Car in water — the complete escape sequence

What the exam asks here: Almost everyone answers 'the seatbelt off'.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 10 questions

The trap

Many learners think: If your car ends up in the water, the very first thing you do is undo your seatbelt.

The rule is: Step 1 is lights on: switch on interior and exterior lights for orientation and visibility to rescuers. Only step 2 is the seatbelt

Challenge

Almost everyone answers 'the seatbelt off'. Understandable — being strapped in feels like the biggest danger. But the book puts a different step first, a step that unbuckles nothing and is therefore almost never named first. That is exactly what makes it a favourite CBR trap.

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The model

Step 1 is lights on — for orientation and visibility, keep the keys in the ignition (Book p.177). Only after that: 2) seatbelt off, 3) side window (never the windscreen), 4) exit facing the car (Book p.177-179).

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Core

In the Netherlands, nearly 800 cars a year end up in water, with about 30 drowning deaths a year. Usually the car keeps floating for a while — enough time for a fixed step plan (Book p.177). Step 1: lights on. Switch on the interior and exterior lights, leave the keys in the ignition. You orient yourself better and stay visible to rescuers. This step costs no time at all and is still the one most often forgotten. Step 2: seatbelt off, as fast as possible. If the buckle jams, use the blade of the safety hammer. Step 3: open or shatter the side window — never the windscreen, which is extra strong. If the side window fails, don't force the door: wait until the car has mostly sunk. Only then is the pressure inside and outside equal and the door opens by itself. Step 4: exit the car. Swim facing the car at first, only turn around once at a safe distance. Help other occupants; get small children to safety first, if necessary on the roof of the car. If the car is upside down, your own body weight jams the belt buckle. Place your feet against the dashboard to press yourself against the seat, push against the roof with one hand, and undo the belt with the other.

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Why it matters

Reversing the order doesn't necessarily cost time — but it does cost visibility and orientation in murky, dark water. And trying to smash the windscreen wastes precious seconds on the car's strongest window instead of its weakest. Rescuers from outside already have a hard enough time due to laminated glass and electric locks (Book p.180) — your own order shouldn't make that harder still.

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Active recall

Your car runs into the water by a canal in Leeuwarden. According to the book, what is your very first step?

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Teach back

Explain: what is the complete sequence of steps for a car in water, and why is the most-forgotten step so important?

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Memory hook

Lights - belt - side window - exit. Never the windscreen. Side window won't budge? Wait until nearly sunk.

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Source: RVV 1990 art. 31 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

Car in water: the often-forgotten step 1 (Book p.177-179)What people often do firstBook order (p.177-179)Step 1seatbelt offlights on (orientation + visibility)Step 3smash the windscreen (biggest pane)side window — windscreen is too strongIf the window won't budgekeep forcing the doorwait until the car has mostly sunk
What to look at: Order: 1 lights on, 2 seatbelt off, 3 side window (not windscreen), 4 exit facing the car, children first.

Signs and law

Test yourself

By a canal just outside Assen, your car runs off the road into the water. The car keeps floating for a moment. What is the very first thing you do, before you try anything else?

Show the answer

Step 1 is lights on — for orientation and visibility, keep the keys in the ignition (Book p.177). Only after that: 2) seatbelt off, 3) side window (never the windscreen), 4) exit facing the car (Book p.177-179).

Exam questions on this topic

About Car in water — the complete escape sequence: which statement is WRONG?

  1. Do not try to smash the windscreen, it is extra strong and therefore almost unbreakable.
  2. If the side window fails, wait until the car has mostly sunk; then the pressure inside and outside is equal and the door opens by itself.
  3. Swim away facing the car at first; only once at a safe distance from the vehicle do you turn around.
  4. If your car ends up in the water, the very first thing you do is undo your seatbelt.
Show the answer

Correct answer: If your car ends up in the water, the very first thing you do is undo your seatbelt.

Step 1 is lights on: switch on interior and exterior lights for orientation and visibility to rescuers. Only step 2 is the seatbelt

Why learners get this wrong: In a car in water, you are best off smashing the windscreen — it is the biggest and easiest to reach.

Open this question

About Car in water — the complete escape sequence: which statements are correct? (multiple answers possible)

  1. If the side window fails, wait until the car has mostly sunk; then the pressure inside and outside is equal and the door opens by itself.
  2. If your car ends up in the water, you always wait until it has sunk completely before trying anything.
  3. Once you have escaped from the car, you had best stay in the water right by the car so the rescuers find you quickly.
  4. Step 1 is lights on: switch on interior and exterior lights for orientation and visibility to rescuers.
Show the answer

Correct answer: If the side window fails, wait until the car has mostly sunk; then the pressure inside and outside is equal and the door opens by itself.; Step 1 is lights on: switch on interior and exterior lights for orientation and visibility to rescuers.

The book makes waiting conditional: only if the side window does not work. Trying to open or break it first is step 3, not waiting straight away

Why learners get this wrong: If your car ends up in the water, you always wait until it has sunk completely before trying anything.

Open this question

About Car in water — the complete escape sequence: which statement is WRONG?

  1. Step 1 is lights on: switch on interior and exterior lights for orientation and visibility to rescuers.
  2. If the side window fails, wait until the car has mostly sunk; then the pressure inside and outside is equal and the door opens by itself.
  3. As soon as you are out of the car, you immediately turn around and swim straight for the shore.
  4. Do not try to smash the windscreen, it is extra strong and therefore almost unbreakable.
Show the answer

Correct answer: As soon as you are out of the car, you immediately turn around and swim straight for the shore.

Swim away facing the car at first; only once at a safe distance from the vehicle do you turn around

Why learners get this wrong: If your car ends up in the water, the very first thing you do is undo your seatbelt.

Open this question

Swim away facing the car at first; only once at a safe distance from the vehicle do you turn around.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

Swim away facing the car at first; only once at a safe distance from the vehicle do you turn around

Why learners get this wrong: As soon as you are out of the car, you immediately turn around and swim straight for the shore.

Open this question

Your car ends up in the water by a canal in Heerenveen. Put the four steps in the correct order, from first to last.

Answer options: Exit the car, facing it · Lights on · Open or shatter the side window · Seatbelt off

Show the answer

Correct answer: Lights on; Seatbelt off; Open or shatter the side window; Exit the car, facing it

Open this question

By a ditch along the A7 near Heerenveen your car ends up in the water. The side window seems hard to reach, but the windscreen is right in front of you. According to the book, which window do you try?

  1. The side window, even though it takes more effort to reach
  2. Neither, you wait until the car has fully sunk before trying anything
  3. The windscreen, it is the biggest and right in front of you
Show the answer

Correct answer: The side window, even though it takes more effort to reach

False — The book makes waiting conditional: only if the side window does not work. Trying to open or break it first is step 3, not waiting straight away

Why learners get this wrong: If your car ends up in the water, you always wait until it has sunk completely before trying anything.

Open this question

Statement: if your car ends up in water, undoing the seatbelt is the very first step you take.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Why learners get this wrong: If your car ends up in the water, the very first thing you do is undo your seatbelt.

Open this question

Your car is slowly sinking in a canal near Assen. The lights are on and your seatbelt is undone, but the side window will not open and does not break with the safety hammer either. The water is up to your waist. What do you do?

  1. You keep pulling hard on the door until it does open
  2. You wait until the car has mostly sunk and then open the door
  3. You smash the windscreen with the hammer, it is the closest
Show the answer

Correct answer: You wait until the car has mostly sunk and then open the door

False — you cannot pull the door open against the water pressure. Wait until the car has mostly sunk; then the pressure inside and outside is equal and the door opens

Why learners get this wrong: If you can't open or break the side window, you keep pulling on the door until it opens.

Open this question

Roughly how many times a year does a car end up in water in the Netherlands?

Show the answer

Correct answer: 800 keer/jaar

Correct: 800.0 keer/jaar (±100.0).

Open this question

You have just got out of your sinking car through the side window into a canal near Leeuwarden. You were alone in the car. What do you do immediately after?

  1. You stay floating right next to the car until help arrives
  2. You turn around at once and swim straight to the bank in one go
  3. You swim away facing the car and only turn around at a distance
Show the answer

Correct answer: You swim away facing the car and only turn around at a distance

False — staying right next to a sinking car is dangerous. Swim away facing the car and only turn around once you are at a safe distance

Why learners get this wrong: Once you have escaped from the car, you had best stay in the water right by the car so the rescuers find you quickly.

Open this question

Frequently asked questions

‘If your car ends up in the water, the very first thing you do is undo your seatbelt’ – is that true?

No. Step 1 is lights on: switch on interior and exterior lights for orientation and visibility to rescuers. Only step 2 is the seatbelt

‘In a car in water, you are best off smashing the windscreen — it is the biggest and easiest to reach’ – is that true?

No. Do not try to smash the windscreen, it is extra strong and therefore almost unbreakable. Use the side window

‘If you can't open or break the side window, you keep pulling on the door until it opens’ – is that true?

No. If the side window fails, wait until the car has mostly sunk; then the pressure inside and outside is equal and the door opens by itself

‘As soon as you are out of the car, you immediately turn around and swim straight for the shore’ – is that true?

No. Swim away facing the car at first; only once at a safe distance from the vehicle do you turn around

‘Once you have escaped from the car, you had best stay in the water right by the car so the rescuers find you quickly’ – is that true?

No. After escaping you swim away facing the car and only turn around at a safe distance; staying close to a sinking car is dangerous

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