Being trapped in a vehicle after an accident is a terrifying thought. Whether your car is submerged underwater or overturned, quick escape is crucial. While these situations are, thankfully, rare, preparedness is key. AAA’s research has highlighted the effectiveness of car escape tools, specifically in breaking tempered glass windows, making them a vital component of vehicle safety.
AAA’s comprehensive study, detailed in their research report, investigated the efficacy of various car escape tools. Their findings offer valuable insights for drivers looking to enhance their emergency preparedness. The research focused on how well these tools performed on both tempered and laminated glass, the two types commonly used in vehicle side windows.
Tempered vs. Laminated Glass: Understanding the Difference for Emergency Exits
It’s essential to know what type of side windows your car has – tempered or laminated – as this significantly impacts your escape strategy and the effectiveness of a Car Break Window Tool. Tempered glass, commonly found in most vehicles, is designed to shatter into small, relatively harmless pieces upon impact. This is the type of glass that car escape tools are designed to break.
Alt text: Close-up of a car side window with a label indicating “Tempered Glass”, highlighting the identification mark for vehicle owners.
Laminated glass, on the other hand, is constructed with a layer of plastic between two layers of glass. This makes it significantly stronger and more resistant to shattering, primarily used for enhanced safety and to prevent occupant ejection during collisions. AAA’s testing revealed a critical point: standard car break window tools are ineffective against laminated glass.
Car Escape Tool Effectiveness: AAA’s Test Results
AAA’s research rigorously tested six different car escape tools to assess their ability to break both tempered and laminated glass. The results were clear: while several tools successfully shattered tempered glass, none could penetrate laminated glass. Specifically, four out of the six tools tested were effective on tempered glass. An important observation from the tests was the superior performance of spring-loaded tools compared to hammer-style tools when breaking tempered windows. Spring-loaded tools generally required less force and were more consistently successful in shattering the glass quickly.
Alt text: Image showcasing a spring-loaded car escape tool with a keychain attachment, emphasizing its compact design and ease of carrying for drivers.
This distinction is crucial for drivers. If your vehicle has laminated side windows, a standard car break window tool will not be effective. Knowing your vehicle’s window type is the first step in formulating an effective emergency plan.
Laminated Side Windows: A Growing Trend in Modern Vehicles
While car break window tools are effective on tempered glass, the increasing use of laminated side windows in newer vehicles presents a challenge. AAA’s study pointed out that approximately 1 in 3 of the 2018 vehicle models incorporated laminated side windows. This trend, aimed at improving vehicle safety by reducing ejection risks, means that relying solely on a car break window tool may not be a universal solution for emergency escape.
John Nielsen, managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair for AAA, emphasizes the importance of understanding your car’s window composition: “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
Determining whether your car has tempered or laminated side windows is straightforward. Simply check the bottom corner of your side windows for a label. This label should clearly indicate “Tempered” or “Laminated” glass. If the label is missing or unclear, AAA recommends contacting your vehicle manufacturer for clarification. Be aware that some vehicles may have a combination of both types of glass, with laminated glass in the front side windows and tempered glass in the rear.
Alt text: Detailed view of a car window label clearly marked “LAMINATED”, guiding vehicle owners on how to identify the glass type for safety preparedness.
Emergency Preparedness: The S-U-R-E Escape Method
Being prepared is paramount in emergency situations. AAA recommends a proactive approach to vehicle safety, focusing on knowledge, planning, and the right tools.
Preparation Steps:
- Know Your Glass: Memorize whether your vehicle’s side windows are tempered or laminated. Identify if there’s at least one tempered window as a potential escape point. Remember, standard car break window tools won’t work on laminated glass.
- Equip Your Vehicle: Keep a car escape tool readily accessible in your car. Choose a tool you are comfortable using and ideally, practice with it beforehand (though not on your car window!). Spring-loaded tools are often recommended. Consider attaching it to your keychain or mounting it in an easily reachable location.
- Plan Your Escape: Develop and communicate an escape plan with all passengers. This will minimize confusion and wasted time during an emergency. Have a backup plan in case the escape tool is ineffective or unusable.
The “S-U-R-E” Escape Method if Trapped:
In a trapped situation, remember the S-U-R-E method for a structured escape:
- Stay Calm: While speed is crucial, remain calm to make rational decisions and ensure everyone’s safety.
- Unbuckle Seatbelts: Immediately unbuckle all seatbelts and ensure everyone is ready to exit.
- Roll Down or Break a Window: First, attempt to roll down the window. If submerged and the window won’t open, and you have tempered glass, use your car break window tool to shatter a side window. Be aware that in a sinking car, water will rush in rapidly once the window is broken. If you have laminated glass that won’t break, move to the back of the vehicle where an air pocket may form and wait for the pressure to equalize to potentially open a door. Note that hammer-style tools may be harder to use underwater.
- Exit the Vehicle: Exit quickly and move to a safe location.
- Call 911: After escaping to safety, call emergency services. In immediate life-threatening situations like submersion or fire, prioritize escape first before calling for help.
Conclusion: Knowledge and Preparedness are Your Best Tools
“Knowledge is power,” as John Nielsen stated, and understanding your vehicle, especially the type of side windows, is crucial for emergency preparedness. Equipping your car with a suitable car break window tool, knowing how to use it, and having an escape plan can significantly increase your chances of survival in a vehicle emergency. Take the time to check your window type, choose the right car break window tool, and discuss your escape plan with your passengers. These simple steps can make all the difference when seconds count.
