Imagine the unthinkable: you’re trapped in your car after an accident. Maybe your vehicle is submerged in water or overturned. While these scenarios are rare, being prepared for any car emergency is crucial. AAA research highlights the importance of having a Glass Breaking Tool For Cars readily available. These tools can be lifesavers, especially when every second counts. But are you aware of the limitations and the best way to use a car glass breaking tool?
AAA’s comprehensive report investigated the effectiveness of various vehicle escape tools in breaking both tempered and laminated car windows. The findings reveal critical information for every driver. Their tests showed that while some tools effectively shattered tempered glass, none could break through laminated glass. Interestingly, spring-loaded glass breaker tools for cars outperformed hammer-style tools in breaking tempered windows.
Alt: AAA spring-loaded car escape tool test shows higher effectiveness on tempered glass compared to hammer type, as per research report.
It’s becoming increasingly important to understand the type of windows in your car. Modern vehicles are more and more frequently equipped with laminated side windows, designed for enhanced safety by preventing ejection during collisions. In fact, approximately 1 in 3 of 2018 vehicle models incorporate laminated side windows. This advanced glass is significantly stronger and virtually unbreakable by standard car glass breaking tools.
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.”
So, how do you determine if your car has tempered or laminated glass? Locate the label at the bottom corner of your side windows. This label should clearly indicate “tempered” or “laminated.” If the label is missing or unclear, contact your vehicle manufacturer for clarification. Keep in mind that some vehicles might have different types of glass in different windows – for example, tempered glass in the rear side windows and laminated in the front.
Being prepared for a car emergency dramatically increases your chances of survival. AAA strongly advises drivers to take these crucial steps:
Emergency Preparedness: Your Action Plan
Prepare Ahead of Time:
- Know Your Glass: Identify whether your car windows are tempered or laminated. If you have at least one tempered window, this should be your primary escape route in an emergency. Remember, standard glass breaking tools for cars will not work on laminated glass.
- Equip Your Car: Keep a car escape tool in your vehicle that you are comfortable using. Practice using it beforehand to ensure familiarity in a stressful situation. Spring-loaded tools, often available as keychains, are easily accessible. Consider mounting the tool on your dashboard or steering column for secure placement during a collision.
- Plan Your Escape: Develop an exit strategy and communicate it with all passengers. This minimizes confusion and wasted time during an emergency. Also, have a backup plan in case your window breaking tool for cars fails or is unusable.
Alt: Car escape tool visual representation, emphasizing preparedness for vehicle emergencies. Image from AAA research on vehicle escape tools.
If Trapped in Your Vehicle, Remember S-U-R-E:
- Stay Calm: While speed is essential, remain calm to make clear decisions and ensure everyone’s safe exit.
- Unbuckle Seat Belts: Immediately unbuckle everyone’s seat belts and ensure they are ready to evacuate the vehicle.
- Roll Down or Break a Window: First, try to roll down a window. If the car is sinking, be aware that water will rush in quickly once the window opens. If the window is stuck and you have tempered glass, use your glass breaking tool for car windows to shatter a side window for escape. If submerged and windows are laminated and cannot be broken, move to the back of the vehicle or locate an air pocket. Stay there until the vehicle fills with water, equalizing pressure, which may allow you to open a door and escape. Note that hammer-style emergency glass breakers might be harder to use underwater compared to spring-loaded types.
- Exit the Vehicle Quickly: Once a window is open or broken, evacuate the vehicle rapidly and move to a safe location.
- Call 911: While normally the first step, in situations like submersion or fire, prioritize immediate escape before calling for emergency services.
“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,” Nielsen concludes. Equipping yourself with a glass breaking tool for cars and understanding its limitations, coupled with preparedness and a clear action plan, can make all the difference in a critical situation.
For a detailed list of vehicles with laminated side windows, refer to this resource.
