The Ultimate Guide to Jumping from a Moving Car (or a Motorcycle to a Car)
DISCLAIMER: DO NOT ATTEMPT THESE MANEUVERS
The following guide is for informational purposes only. Jumping from a moving vehicle or leaping from a motorcycle into a car is incredibly dangerous and should only be considered in life-threatening emergencies. Practicing or attempting these actions under normal circumstances can result in severe injury or death. If you find yourself in a situation where you may need to escape a moving vehicle, call emergency services and seek professional help whenever possible.
Why Would You Ever Need to Jump from a Moving Car?
Hopefully, you’ll never find yourself in a situation where jumping from a moving vehicle is your only option. But if your brakes fail, your car is heading off a cliff, or you’re in a movie-style action sequence (just kidding—don’t try this), you might have to make a split-second decision.
Jumping from a moving car is all about minimizing injury. If done incorrectly, you could suffer severe injuries or worse. If you ever find yourself in this situation, follow these steps to give yourself the best chance of survival.
How to Jump from a Moving Car
Step 1: Apply the Emergency Brake
If you have even a fraction of a second before jumping, pull the emergency brake. This won’t bring the car to an immediate stop, but it may slow it down just enough to reduce impact when you jump.
- If possible, steer toward softer ground like grass or dirt.
- Avoid aiming the car toward traffic or cliffs.
- If the emergency brake doesn’t work, move on to the next step.
Step 2: Open the Door
This may sound obvious, but in a high-stress moment, it’s easy to forget. If you can, check for obstacles before flinging the door open. A door hitting a tree or pole could alter your trajectory.
- Open it as wide as possible.
- Ensure it’s clear of objects that could snag your clothes.
- Make sure the wind isn’t pushing it back on you.
Step 3: Choose Your Exit Strategy
You don’t just want to fall out—you need to control your exit. If you jump straight out, your momentum will keep you moving forward, increasing your risk of injury.
- Jump at a 45-degree angle away from the car’s path.
- If the car is going straight, jump slightly backward and sideways.
- NEVER jump forward or directly sideways—you’ll hit the ground with too much forward momentum.
Step 4: Tuck and Roll
This is crucial. You want to absorb the impact with a roll, not your face.
- Tuck your chin to your chest.
- Pull your arms and legs in tight.
- Try to land on your shoulder, NOT your hands or head.
- Once you hit the ground, roll in the direction you were moving—don’t fight the momentum.
Step 5: Aim for a Soft Landing
If you can control your jump even slightly, go for softer surfaces:
✅ Grass
✅ Bushes
✅ Sand
✅ Dirt
🚫 Pavement
🚫 Rocks
🚫 Trees
🚫 Traffic
How to Leap from a Motorcycle into a Moving Car
Alright, if jumping from a car wasn’t crazy enough, what about leaping from a motorcycle into a moving car? Again, let’s be clear: DO NOT DO THIS. But if your life depends on it, here’s how trained stunt professionals handle it.
Step 1: Assess the Situation
Before leaping off your bike, you need to be sure this is even possible. Ask yourself:
- Is the road clear of obstacles and traffic?
- Are both the motorcycle and car moving at a steady speed?
- Is the car’s window rolled down?
- Are you close enough to reach the car safely?
If the answer to any of these is “No,” jumping is a terrible idea.
Step 2: Match Speeds
This is critical. If your bike and the car are traveling at different speeds, you’ll either slam into the car or bounce off the side.
- Ideal speed: 30-40 mph. Anything faster increases the risk.
- Steady throttle: Avoid sudden accelerations or slowdowns.
Step 3: Position Yourself for the Jump
This part is tricky. You need to set yourself up for the best possible landing.
- Move parallel to the car.
- Target the front passenger window.
(Rear windows are too small, and doors are harder to grab onto.) - Keep a firm grip on the handlebars while shifting your weight.
Step 4: Prepare to Leap
Alright, here’s the moment of truth. Keep your weight balanced as you transition from your bike to the car.
- Place your left foot on the foot peg.
- Move your right foot onto the motorcycle seat.
- Keep your grip firm on the handlebars.
Step 5: The Jump
This is the hardest part. Your goal is to get as much control as possible mid-air.
- Push off with your left foot.
- Aim your hands for the car’s window frame.
- Pull yourself in as smoothly as possible.
Step 6: Secure Your Landing
Once you’re inside, you need to stabilize.
- Grab onto anything inside the car.
- Shift your body weight inside quickly—hanging halfway out is dangerous.
- Once inside, take control and regain full stability.
The Final Word: Don’t Try This
Both of these stunts require precision, training, and luck. If you ever find yourself in a scenario where jumping from a moving vehicle seems necessary, do everything possible to slow down first. These methods should only be considered as last-ditch survival maneuvers.
Again, DO NOT ATTEMPT THESE ACTIONS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. These techniques are used by trained stunt professionals in controlled environments. Attempting them in real life could lead to serious injury or death.
Stay safe. The best way to survive is to never be in this situation in the first place.
Make sure to check out more articles in our News & Views section. Feel free to reach out any time to see how Entropy Survival can help you prepare you and your family for any disaster or survival scenario.