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How do you escape a sinking vehicle?

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Vehicle escape tools can be a lifesaver, but new research finds vehicle escape tools effective in breaking tempered side windows; none broke laminated glass

If your car crashes in the water, how do you escape? AAA tested six consumer tools designed to help drivers break their car window. Although most were effective on tempered glass, none shattered a type of window that is becoming more common in newer vehicles.

Compelling new video from AAA shows a trained professional drive his SUV into a lake. He uses a spring-loaded escape tool to cut his seat belt, break his window, and escape his sinking vehicle. If his window was laminated glass, escape would not be so easy. On Monday, AAA allowed reporters to try breaking both the tempered and laminated glass. In this video, you see the durability of the laminated glass, even against the force of a hammer.

Read below for AAA's formal study on vehicle escape tools and find out why laminated windows are becoming more prominent on U.S. roadways.

Background

In 2017, there were an estimated 21,000 crashes in which the vehicle caught fire or became partially or fully submerged, resulting in 1,800 deaths. Based on these estimates, drivers experienced over 10 times the number of rollover crashes than those related to fire and submersion combined.

Escape tools are intended to aid occupants in an emergency by breaking through side windows to create a way to exit the vehicle. The majority of vehicle side windows are made from tempered glass, which shatters when broken. But an increasing number of vehicles are being built with laminated side window glass, which is nearly impossible to break.

Drivers may not realize, one in three 2018 vehicle models have laminated side windows, a nearly unbreakable glass meant to lessen the chance of occupant ejection during a collision. AAA urges drivers to know what type of side window glass is installed on their vehicle, keep a secure and easily accessible escape tool in their car and have a backup plan in case an escape tool cannot be used or doesn’t work.

Click here to view a list of vehicles equipped with laminated side windows.

Research

In its latest study, AAA examined a selection of vehicle escape tools available to consumers to determine their effectiveness in breaking tempered and laminated vehicle side windows.

Results:

Six tools were selected (three spring-loaded and three hammer-style)

Only four were able to shatter the tempered glass

Spring-loaded tools were determined to be more effective in breaking tempered windows than the hammer-style

None were able to break the laminated glass, which stayed intact even after being cracked

“To improve safety, more vehicles are being equipped with laminated side windows – but a majority also have at least one window made of tempered glass,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA - The Auto Club Group. “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.”

What windows do you have?

Drivers can determine the type of glass installed on their vehicle by first checking for a label located in the bottom corner of the side window, which should clearly indicate whether the glass is tempered or laminated. If this information is not included or there is no label at all, AAA advises contacting the vehicle manufacturer. It is also important to note that some vehicles are outfitted with different glass at varying locations in the car (i.e. tempered glass on rear side windows versus laminated on front side windows).

Click here to view a list of vehicles equipped with laminated side windows.

Why laminated glass?

The increased use of laminated glass is in response to federal safety standards aimed at reducing occupant ejections in high speed collisions. In 2017, there were an estimated 21,400 people who were partially or fully ejected during a crash, resulting in 11,200 injuries and 5,053 deaths. While these types of crashes are more prevalent, there are instances where vehicles may catch fire or become partially or fully submerged in water, forcing drivers and their passengers to exit the vehicle through a side window. In situations like this, vehicle escape tools can assist ahead of emergency responders arriving.

Picking a vehicle escape tool

Vehicle escape tools come in many varieties, but AAA suggests avoiding tools with extra features such as lights or chargers since these functions do not improve the performance of the tool itself. Drivers should also remember that in the event their vehicle is submerged, a hammer-style escape tool (as opposed to a spring-loaded-style) will be ineffective underwater because it would be harder to swing.

“Drivers should pick a tool they feel comfortable with and find easy to use, but most importantly they should store it somewhere that is secure and within reach following a collision,” added Jenkins.

Escape tools should be easy to access, even after a collision; therefore motorists should consider the location of the tool and how it is stored in the vehicle. Spring-loaded tools are often designed to be used as a key chain, which allows the tool to be attached to the ignition or to a purse or backpack. Some hammer tools come with a plastic housing that can be mounted in the vehicle. Drivers can even fasten the tool to the dash or steering column with a hook-and-loop fastener so that it stays in place during a collision.

Preparation is important

Being prepared in an emergency can greatly improve the chances of survival, especially if drivers and their passengers have become trapped in the vehicle. AAA strongly recommends drivers do the following:

Memorize the type of glass the vehicle windows are made of – tempered or laminated. If the car has at least one tempered window, this will be the best point of exit in an emergency. Also, remember – standard escape tools will not break laminated glass.

Keep an escape tool in the car that the driver is comfortable using, has previously tested and is easy to access following a collision. To make sure a vehicle escape tool is working properly, test it ahead of time on a softer surface such as a piece of soft wood. The tool works if the tip impacts the surface, leaving a small indent in the material.

Plan an exit strategy in advance and communicate it to everyone in the car. This will help avoid confusion in an emergency, which could increase the time it takes to exit the vehicle. Also, have a backup plan in case an escape tool cannot be used or doesn’t work.

If trapped in a vehicle, remember there is a S-U-R-E way out:

Stay calm. While time is of the essence – work cautiously to ensure everyone safely exits the vehicle.

Unbuckle seat belts and check to see that everyone is ready to leave the car when it’s time.

Roll down or break a window – remember if the car is sinking in water, once the window is open the water will rush into the car at a faster rate. If the window will not open and the car has tempered glass, use an escape tool to break a side window to escape. Drivers should also remember that:

If a window will not open or cannot be broken because it is laminated, everyone should move to the back of the vehicle or wherever an air pocket is located. Stay with it until all of the air has left the vehicle. Once this happens, the pressure should equalize, allowing occupants to open a door and escape.

If the vehicle is submerged, a hammer-style escape tool (as opposed to a spring-loaded-style) could be much harder to swing underwater.

Exit the vehicle quickly and move everyone to safety.

Call 911 – while this is typically the first step in an emergency, if a vehicle has hit the water or is on fire, it is best to try to escape first.

Methodology

For testing methodology, refer to the full report by clicking here.

AAA, Floods, Sinking, Vehicle Safety

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