Being trapped in a vehicle after an accident is a terrifying thought. Whether your car is overturned or submerged, the seconds count. While these scenarios are rare, occurring less frequently than rollover accidents, preparedness is key to survival. Having a reliable Car Window Shattering Tool readily available can be the difference between life and death in these critical moments.
Understanding Car Window Glass: Tempered vs. Laminated
AAA conducted a research report to evaluate the effectiveness of various car escape tools. Their findings highlighted a crucial distinction: not all car windows are created equal. Most vehicles utilize tempered glass for side and rear windows, designed to shatter into small, relatively harmless pieces upon impact. However, an increasing number of modern vehicles, particularly from 2018 models onwards, are equipped with laminated side windows.
Laminated glass, often used for windshields for enhanced safety, is significantly stronger. It consists of multiple layers of glass bonded together with a plastic interlayer. This construction makes it virtually unbreakable by standard car window shattering tools. AAA’s testing confirmed this, demonstrating that while escape tools effectively shattered tempered glass, none could penetrate laminated glass, even after cracking it. Interestingly, spring-loaded tools outperformed hammer-style tools in breaking tempered windows during these tests.
This rise in laminated side windows, intended to prevent occupant ejection during collisions, presents a critical challenge. While enhancing overall safety, it complicates emergency escapes. As John Nielsen, Managing Director of Automotive Engineering and Repair for AAA, points out, “To improve safety, more cars have laminated side windows – but a majority also have at least one window made of tempered glass. Our research found that generally vehicle escape tools can be effective in an emergency, but only if drivers know what type of side windows they have, otherwise they could waste precious seconds trying to break glass that will not shatter.”
Identifying Your Car Window Type: A Simple Check
Knowing your vehicle’s window composition is paramount. Fortunately, determining whether your side windows are tempered or laminated is straightforward. Simply check the bottom corner of each side window for a small label. This label should clearly indicate “tempered” or “laminated”. If no label is present, or the information is unclear, contact your vehicle manufacturer for clarification. Be aware that some vehicles may have a combination of both types, for instance, laminated front side windows and tempered rear side windows.
Emergency Preparedness: Be S-U-R-E
Preparation is vital. AAA strongly advises drivers to take the following steps to enhance their emergency readiness:
Pre-Emergency Preparation:
- Know Your Glass: Memorize whether your vehicle’s side windows are tempered or laminated. If you have at least one tempered window, identify it as your primary escape route. Remember, standard car window shattering tools are ineffective against laminated glass.
- Equip Your Vehicle: Keep a car window shattering tool in your car that you are comfortable using, have ideally tested (on a safe, expendable piece of tempered glass under controlled conditions), and can easily access in an emergency. Spring-loaded tools are often keychain-sized for convenience. Consider mounting the tool to your dashboard or steering column for secure, accessible placement during a collision.
- Plan Your Escape: Develop and communicate an escape plan to all vehicle occupants. This proactive step minimizes confusion and delays during an emergency. Include a backup plan in case the car window shattering tool is unusable or ineffective.
The S-U-R-E Escape Method:
In a vehicle entrapment situation, remember the S-U-R-E steps to escape:
- Stay Calm: Panic wastes precious time. Work quickly and deliberately to ensure everyone’s safe exit.
- Unbuckle Seatbelts: Ensure all occupants are unbuckled and ready to evacuate.
- Roll Down or Break a Window: First attempt to roll down a window. If submerged, be aware that water will rush in once the window opens. If the window is stuck and you have tempered glass, use your car window shattering tool to break a side window. For submerged vehicles:
- If windows are inoperable or laminated, move to the back of the vehicle or locate an air pocket. Stay with the air pocket until the vehicle is completely filled with water. The pressure should then equalize, potentially allowing a door to open.
- Hammer-style tools may be harder to use effectively underwater compared to spring-loaded tools.
- Exit the Vehicle: Evacuate quickly and move to a safe location.
- Call 911: While typically the first step in an emergency, prioritize escape first if the vehicle is submerged or on fire.
Conclusion: Knowledge and Tools for Safety
“Knowledge is power,” emphasizes Nielsen, “and the more drivers understand about their car – like what type of glass their side windows are made of – the better prepared they will be in the event of an emergency.” Understanding the limitations of car window shattering tools against laminated glass, and knowing how to identify your window type, are crucial elements of vehicle safety. By being prepared and equipped with the right knowledge and tools, you significantly increase your chances of survival in a vehicle emergency.
