First published October 3, 2018.
Life can get crazy and uncontrollable in the blink of the eye. While you should try to remain positive and hope for the best, it's foolhardy not to keep yourself informed and ready for the worst.
Understanding the difference between tempered and laminated side-window glass is essential when evaluating an escape tool.
According to Higher Perspectives, if you find yourself trapped in a car, your best bet is going to be focusing on the side windows' edges. Even if submerged in water, those will be the best avenues for your escape plan.
Windshields are generally laminated, and side windows may also be laminated. An escape tool that breaks tempered glass should not be assumed to break laminated glass.
When trying to break a car window, submerged or not, the middle of the glass will be the most difficult to break. A household screwdriver, hammer or wrench is not a reliable universal escape solution. Choose a purpose-built tool appropriate to the vehicle's glass and secure it within reach.
Force on a submerged window depends on water depth and window area; 850 pounds is not a universal value. Aiming at an edge does not overcome the limitations of laminated glass.
Do not deliberately wait for the vehicle to fill with water. The clip's window-breaking approach is not a guaranteed escape method, especially with laminated side windows. On land being in a pinch breaking a side window might give you a quick escape too.
Timing is everything, so you need to keep a cool head and act quickly. The deeper the car descends, the more pressure there'll be, making the window more difficult to break.
AAA's 2019 testing found that four of six escape tools broke tempered glass, while none penetrated laminated glass; no tool guarantees success. Don't forget to leave it in your armrest or other easily reached areas.
Not every side window shatters the same way
Some vehicle side windows are laminated, so the 2018 claim that they are all designed to shatter is unsafe. Escape-tool testing distinguishes laminated from tempered glass, and a household blunt object is not a guaranteed solution. The vehicle's actual window markings and guidance matter more than a generalized viral demonstration.
Do not wait for the article's pressure estimate
The quoted force is not a universal value for every depth and window. In an actual emergency, conditions change quickly and a web article cannot assess them. This piece should be used to question oversimplified claims and consult established vehicle-escape guidance in advance, not as a promise that striking a particular corner will always create an exit.
Sources and context: AAA: vehicle escape tool testing, 2019
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