Caught in a car in a flood? Don’t believe what you see on TV

Jonathan SeidlerAugust 19, 2026 — 7:00pmEach week, Good Weekend’s how-to column shares expert advice on how to navigate some of modern life’s big – and small – challenges. This week: How to get out of a car in floodwater. Photo: Illustration by Simon LetchIf you’re a fan of action movies, you may think that the celluloid version of a car being submerged in water – after flying off a pier in slo-mo, or somersaulting off a bridge during a high-octane shootout – reflects what happens in real life. But, in reality, you’re far more likely to find your vehicle trapped in water in the context of a flood. “At least half the drowning deaths that happen in floods are vehicle-related,” says Dr Amy Peden, a drowning prevention researcher at UNSW. “A lot of people have this misconception that your car