Imagine the sheer panic of being trapped – upside down in a vehicle after a collision, or worse, sinking rapidly in water. While these scenarios are thankfully rare, the risk, however small, is very real. In 2017 alone, approximately 8,000 car crashes involved vehicle submersion. Rollover accidents, even more frequent, present similar entrapment risks. The critical factor in surviving such emergencies isn’t just luck, but preparedness. Having a well-thought-out plan and readily accessible Emergency Window Breaking Tool For Car can dramatically increase your chances of escape.
AAA’s research has shed light on the effectiveness of these tools, specifically highlighting their performance against different types of car window glass. Their report, “Research-Report-Vehicle-Escape-Tools.pdf“, reveals crucial insights into which tools work and, more importantly, which don’t, especially when faced with modern car window technology.
Understanding Your Car Windows: Tempered vs. Laminated Glass
Before you invest in an emergency window breaking tool for car, it’s vital to understand the two primary types of glass used in car side windows: tempered and laminated.
Tempered glass, the more traditional type, is designed to shatter into small, relatively harmless pieces upon impact. This is the type of glass that emergency window breaking tools are designed to fracture.
Laminated glass, increasingly common in newer vehicles, is constructed with a layer of plastic sandwiched between two layers of glass. This makes it significantly stronger and virtually shatterproof. While laminated glass excels at preventing occupant ejection during accidents and enhancing security, it poses a serious challenge in emergency escape situations. AAA testing confirmed that standard emergency window breaking tools are ineffective against laminated glass; they may crack it, but not shatter it.
The critical takeaway? An emergency window breaking tool is only truly effective if your car has tempered glass windows.
The Performance of Car Escape Tools: AAA’s Findings
To provide consumers with reliable information, AAA rigorously tested six different emergency window breaking tools. The results were revealing. Out of the six tools tested, only four successfully shattered tempered glass. Crucially, none of the tools were able to effectively break laminated glass. Even after multiple attempts, laminated glass remained largely intact, merely cracking under pressure.
Furthermore, the tests highlighted a performance difference between tool types. Spring-loaded emergency window breaking tools proved to be more consistently effective at shattering tempered glass compared to hammer-style tools. This is likely due to the concentrated force delivered by the spring-loaded mechanism.
The Growing Prevalence of Laminated Side Windows
Compounding the issue, laminated side windows are becoming increasingly common in new vehicles. AAA’s research notes that approximately 1 in 3 of the 2018 vehicle models already incorporated laminated side windows. This trend continues, meaning a significant portion of vehicles on the road today have side windows that standard emergency window breaking tools cannot penetrate.
John Nielsen, Managing Director of Automotive Engineering and Repair for AAA, emphasizes this point: “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.”
This highlights a critical knowledge gap. Many drivers are unaware of the type of side window glass their car has, potentially leading to wasted critical seconds in an emergency situation attempting to use an emergency window breaking tool on laminated glass.
Identifying Your Car’s Window Type: A Simple Check
Fortunately, determining whether your car has tempered or laminated side windows is straightforward. Simply check the bottom corner of your side windows for a small label. This label should clearly indicate “TEMPERED” or “LAMINATED.”
If the label is unclear, missing, or you are still unsure, AAA recommends contacting your vehicle manufacturer directly. It’s also important to note that some vehicles may have a mix of window types, for example, laminated front side windows and tempered rear side windows. Therefore, check each side window individually.
Knowing your car’s window composition is the first crucial step in emergency preparedness and in determining the potential effectiveness of an emergency window breaking tool for car.
Emergency Preparedness: Being Ready to Escape
Being prepared for a vehicle emergency is paramount. AAA strongly advises drivers to take the following proactive steps:
1. Know Your Glass Type: 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 point in an emergency. Remember, standard emergency window breaking tools will not work on laminated glass.
2. Equip Your Vehicle with an Escape Tool: If your car has tempered glass windows, keep an emergency window breaking tool readily accessible in your vehicle. Choose a tool you are comfortable using and, ideally, practice with it beforehand (on an appropriate target, not your car!). Spring-loaded tools are generally recommended for their effectiveness. Consider mounting the tool on your dashboard or steering column for easy access during a collision. Keychain versions are also available for convenient carry.
3. Plan Your Escape Route: Develop a clear exit strategy and communicate it to all passengers. This pre-planning can prevent confusion and wasted time during a stressful emergency. Also, consider a backup plan in case the emergency window breaking tool is inaccessible or ineffective.
The S-U-R-E Method: Your Escape Plan
In a vehicle entrapment emergency, remember the S-U-R-E method for a structured approach to escape:
- Stay Calm: While urgency is critical, panic can hinder clear thinking. Focus and act decisively.
- Unbuckle Seat Belts: Ensure everyone in the vehicle is 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 rapidly once a window is opened. If the window is stuck and you have tempered glass, use your emergency window breaking tool to shatter a side window. If you have laminated glass and are submerged, proceed to the next step. In a submersion scenario:
- If windows are laminated and cannot be broken, move to the rear of the vehicle or locate any air pocket. Stay with the air pocket until the vehicle completely fills with water. This pressure equalization may then allow you to open a door and escape.
- Note that hammer-style emergency window breaking tools can be significantly harder to use effectively underwater due to water resistance.
- Exit the Vehicle: Once a window is open or a door is accessible, evacuate quickly and move to a safe location.
- Call 911: After escaping to safety, call emergency services. In situations like submersion or fire, prioritize escape before calling for help.
Knowledge is Your Best Tool
As John Nielsen wisely stated, “Knowledge is power, 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.”
Investing in an emergency window breaking tool for car can be a valuable safety measure, but only if you know you have tempered glass windows. Understanding your vehicle’s features and practicing emergency procedures are the most powerful tools you can possess to enhance your safety and the safety of your passengers on the road.
For a comprehensive list of vehicles with laminated side windows, you can refer to this resource: “Laminated-Glass-Vehicle-List.pdf“.
