Every so often, a meme circulates on social media, capturing widespread attention. Recently, a particular myth has gained traction, sparking excitement about its supposed implications and advantages.
This made me question its validity. Could it be true? If so, it’s a remarkable hidden trick I was unaware of! Conversely, if false, promoting it could be hazardous, especially when dedicated tools exist for emergency window breaking.
THE MYTH: A car headrest is intentionally designed to be detachable and sharp for breaking vehicle windows, implying car windows are easily broken from the inside.
Vehicle Headrest
Image: Close-up of a vehicle seat headrest, illustrating its typical shape and material.
Let’s dissect this myth, examining both the headrest and the window aspects.
First, consider the primary function of a headrest. It’s a crucial component of the vehicle’s safety restraint system. Anyone using a backless booster seat or just a seatbelt should absolutely have a headrest. It plays a vital role in preventing neck hyperextension during a collision, potentially preventing severe spinal cord injuries and reducing whiplash. This is its main purpose. But what about window breaking?
My research led me to a comprehensive document by the NHTSA detailing headrest function and design. Despite its length, there’s no mention of window-breaking capabilities.
Furthermore, not all vehicles have removable headrests, which casts doubt on the myth. If this were an industry standard for safety, non-detachable headrests would be uncommon. Upon inspecting the headrests in my own cars, neither were sharp, further disproving the “sharp headrest” aspect of the myth.
Therefore, it’s safe to say that vehicle headrests are not deliberately designed to be detachable or sharp for breaking windows. While it might be a fortunate coincidence if a headrest could break a window, it’s not part of the vehicle seat’s intended design based on available information.
Now, let’s address the second part: the supposed ease of breaking vehicle glass. My initial instinct was that this is false, but understanding vehicle glass construction is essential. Learning about vehicle glass reveals crucial safety features.
FMVSS 205 sets standards for automotive window transparency and strength, ensuring occupant safety during accidents. This regulation indicates that car glass is designed to be strong.
Windshields are made of laminated glass, while side windows are tempered glass. Laminated glass consists of two glass layers with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer. PVB enhances energy absorption, making it stronger than regular glass. This construction maintains roof integrity in rollovers and prevents passenger ejection through the windshield. Laminated glass is highly unlikely to break with a headrest prong.
Tempered glass undergoes heating and rapid cooling, making the outer layers compress and the inner layer expand. This process significantly strengthens the glass, making it 5 to 10 times stronger than standard glass. While strong, tempered glass has weaker edges, which are typically ground and smoothed (notice the top edges of your car windows). Could this edge weakness be exploited by a headrest to break a window? Possibly, but let’s revisit the myth.
The myth claims headrests are deliberately detachable for window breaking and that car windows are easily broken from the inside. The very design of tempered and laminated glass contradicts this. These glasses are engineered for exceptional strength: to stabilize the car frame, retain occupants, and withstand airbag force. Neither laminated nor tempered glass is designed to be easily broken.
Verdict: The myth, as presented, is definitively BUSTED.
Before dismissing the possibility entirely based on online videos showing window breakage with headrests, it’s important to clarify: I’m not saying it’s impossible to break a window with a headrest. I’m stating that vehicle headrests are not designed for this purpose, and vehicle glass is intentionally difficult to break. Crucially, dedicated tools like the Resqme or an Emergency Window Hammer are available. These tools reliably and easily break windows in emergencies and are essential to keep in your car. Many also include seatbelt cutters, potentially saving lives in accidents involving submersion or jammed doors.
Image: A Resqme emergency tool, a compact device designed to break car windows and cut seatbelts.
Ultimately, the goal is to see this misleading meme fade away, ideally replaced by information promoting seatbelt cutter/window breaker tools. Relying on the hope that a headrest might work in an emergency is risky. Investing in affordable tools provides peace of mind and the assurance of a reliable escape method if trapped in a vehicle.
Explore More of CSB’s Popular Mythbusting Series:
A 5-Point Harness Is Safer Than A Booster Seat for Older Kids
Can You Install A Carseat Too Tightly?
3-Across & Adjacent Car Seat Installations
Can a rear-facing car seat touch front vehicle seats?
Legs bent or feet touching the backseat when rear-facing is dangerous
We’re all going to die in an airplane crash anyway, so why use a carseat?
Are backseat baby mirrors deadly?
Shopping Cart Safety – is it safe to put an infant carseat on top of cart?
Your pediatrician is a car seat expert
You need an infant carseat for a newborn
LATCH is safer than a seat belt installation
Vehicle headrests are meant to break vehicle windows
