How effective is a pocket car window breaker?

[anorlunda]

How do I know the side window is laminated or tempered? The model of the car is Subaru Forester 2016 and Honda CRV 2004.

Call the dealers.

 

[Ketch22]

The model of the car is Subaru Forester 2016 and Honda CRV 2004.

That would be your answer. Very few cars have laminated side windows. The trend started appearing in 2017. The primary changer was that high end cars that were trying to improve the safety ratings needed better survivability in the difficult side impact tests. By using laminated glass the side curtain airbags had a durable surface to react against. The jury is still out on this practice as it is also known that it makes rescue more difficult and as anorlunda stated safety glass has sharp edges.

According to the vehicle manuals I have both of those vehicles are good for what you are planning. Many Fire and Rescue departments maintain manuals in the rescue truck that list characteristics of vehicles such as: type of glass, location of airbags, location of battery, anything the rescue types may need to know. The easiest way to find this info is to contact your local department and see if they have it listed. (The manuals are getting to be crazy so don't be disappointed if they are not current).

 

[cjl]

It also decreases the probability of a limb (or an entire person) exiting the window during a rollover, which theoretically should improve rollover safety as well. As you said, it does hinder escape or rescue though, so it's not entirely a positive.

 

[russ_watters]

...it's not entirely a positive.

...but probably a net positive. This thread focuses on escape, but it's the impact that kills most people, not the inability to escape a burning or sinking car.

 

[mastermechanic]

Just get some old spark plugs and remove the porcelain part, break into pieces and keep in the car. When you need it, just throw the pieces towards to windows.

I don't know where I know it from but it's good to know :) There are bunch of videos in youtube related to this.

 

[DaveC426913]

Just get some old spark plugs and remove the porcelain part, break into pieces and keep in the car. When you need it, just throw the pieces towards to windows.

You're going to break a car window by throwing broken porcelain at it from a position sitting 6 inches from the window?

Huh. Apparently . you . are.

Seems to almost defy physics!

OK, so two questions remain for me:

1. All the demos are from the outside, where there's plenty of room for a good throw. What happens when you are inside, strapped in the seat?
2. All the demos use a freshly busted piece. What will happen with a piece that has been rattling around in your console for five years?

 

[seazal]

You're going to break a car window by throwing broken porcelain at it from a position sitting 6 inches from the window?

Huh. Apparently . you . are.

Seems to almost defy physics!

OK, so two questions remain for me:

1. All the demos are from the outside, where there's plenty of room for a good throw. What happens when you are inside, strapped in the seat?
2. All the demos use a freshly busted piece. What will happen with a piece that has been rattling around in your console for five years?

They are also many videos of simply throwing salt at the side windows and it breaks. What happens here?

 

[anorlunda]

Salt? Very interesting. I suspect that the salt, the porcelain the conical hammer, and the center punch all have two things in common --- a sharp point and hardness.

Salt crystals

 

[DaveC426913]

They are also many videos of simply throwing salt at the side windows and it breaks. What happens here?

I think this stretches my skepticism to breaking.
I will put my money on 'fake' until convinced otherwise.

 

[DrClaude]

I think this stretches my skepticism to breaking.
I will put my money on 'fake' until convinced otherwise.

Driving on winter roads, I have had salt hit my windows many times and it never broke any...

 

[seazal]

I think this stretches my skepticism to breaking.
I will put my money on 'fake' until convinced otherwise.

I used the wildcard "salt window break" in youtube…



So how does the salt break the tempered car side window? By molecular action?

 

[DaveC426913]

So how does the salt break the tempered car side window? By molecular action?

I'd say by spitting a piece of hardened porcelain into his hand before throwing.