Testing shows automotive glassbreakers can't break modern automotive glass
Recorded: Nov. 30, 2025, 1:07 a.m.
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Testing Shows Automotive Glassbreakers Can't Break Modern Automotive Glass - Core77 Company Directory ID Jobs Awards Blog Guides Discussion About Sign In / Join Now Core77 Company Directory ID Jobs Awards Blog Guides Discussion e Sign In / Join Now e Testing Shows Automotive Glassbreakers Can't Break Modern Automotive Glass By Rain Noe in It's easy to convince EDC people to buy EDC things. But how do you convince non-EDC folks to buy your product?Simple: Fear.The global "car escape tool market," according to market research firm Data Insights Market, is valued at $500 million this year, projected to grow 7% a year and hit $900 million in 2033. The trend is being driven by "heightened safety concerns among consumers."A big seller in this category is the automotive window breaker and seat belt cutter. The fantasy being peddled by the toolmakers is: You will crash, remain conscious, find that your car has burst into flame or is slowly sinking in water, find that you cannot undo your seatbelt, yet are still able to reach for this specialty tool, slice through your seatbelt, then smash the window open and climb free to safety.This image sure looks real to us! Accidents that involve fire or water are less than half of one percent of all accidents, according to the NHTSA. And the amount of accidents where the above scenario actually occurred, and that tool saved lives, is not recorded as a statistic. Similarly, seat belt jamming is so rare that neither the NHTSA nor the AAA track it as a statistic.As for the glassbreakers, here's the big thing that most people don't realize: They're designed to break tempered glass, which is what most cars used to have for the side windows. However, modern safety regulations—specifically, the "Ejection Mitigation Rule" in the 2013 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 226 (FMVSS 226), mean that most manufacturers have transitioned to laminated glass for the side windows. Laminated glass (which is what the windshields were already made of) is tougher to break, and is now used to prevent occupants from being ejected through the side glass.An AAA research report tested six commonly-available glassbreakers. Not a single one of them was capable of breaking through laminated glass—and two of the tools couldn't even break through tempered glass, but instead broke themselves. On the glass.It's true that not all automakers have switched over to laminated glass for the side windows; the FMVSS 226 law stipulates that you can get around it if you install elaborate side airbags that also prevent ejection.The automakers that are using laminated side glass are only: Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Genesis, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Ram, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo. Some of them, like Chevy and BMW, have been using laminated glass since the '70s and '80s. Glassbreakers might only be useful if you're driving around in a classic car and believe you'll become submerged.That said, seatbelt cutters are of supreme use to firefighters, EMTs and other first responders who may not be able to reach an unconscious accident victim's seatbelt release. So there might be a case for them if you see yourself in a situation where you need to free an unconscious person, and have the training to safely extricate them.
o Favorite This Q Comment Comments Brian Drake a month ago Z Just want to point out that there have been several cases of people not being able to get out of their flaming Teslas because of failures in the door releases. (Not to mention that the emergency releases for the rear doors on some Tesla models are incredibly hard to find in an emergency, if they exist at all.) Sure, the odds of an EV going up in flames are pretty low, but if you're in a Tesla, it'd be nice to have something that could break the glass. Share your thoughts Join over 240,000 designers who stay up-to-date with the Core77 newsletter. Subscribe Directory Company Profiles Core77 Directory Find the Best Industrial Design Delve Mighty Studios PENSA DesignThink, Inc. A2 FLUID Design Michael DiTullo For more than 20 years Mi... K mSign In with Twitter OR jSign In with Core77 Account Email or Username Password Forgot password? Keep me signed in Cancel Don't have an account? Join Now K YJoin Now with Facebook OR jJoin Now with Email Email Not Public Username Password Confirm Password Cancel Already have an account? Sign In By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use K Cancel
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The Core77 article, authored by Rain Noe, examines the efficacy of automotive glassbreakers in modern vehicles, concluding that they are largely ineffective due to advancements in automotive safety regulations and glass technology. The piece centers on the significant shift in automotive design, primarily driven by the “Ejection Mitigation Rule” established in 2013’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 226 (FMVSS 226). This regulation mandated a move from tempered glass to laminated glass for side windows, a key change designed to prevent occupant ejection during accidents. Laminated glass, substantially stronger and more resistant to shattering, is now standard across a wide range of vehicles – encompassing brands like Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Genesis, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Ram, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. The article highlights that several of these manufacturers had been utilizing laminated glass since the 1970s and 1980s. Consequently, commercially available glassbreakers are largely unable to penetrate this strengthened glass. Testing conducted by AAA demonstrated this inability; six commonly available glassbreakers failed to break through either tempered or laminated glass, with two tools fracturing themselves upon impact with the glass. The discussion addresses a potential exception: the continued use of laminated glass in vehicles where automakers have implemented supplementary safety features. These include complex side airbags intended to mitigate ejection risks. However, the article notes that some manufacturers, such as Chevy and BMW, utilize this glass due to its historical precedent. Despite the limited effectiveness of glassbreakers for modern vehicles, the author argues for a continued role in specific situations—primarily for first responders and emergency personnel. Seatbelt cutters remain valuable tools for firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders who may require quick access to seatbelt releases in emergency situations. Ultimately, the article presents a stark contrast between the aspirational image of a glassbreaker as a heroic escape tool and the reality of contemporary automotive safety. The core takeaway is that the evolution of vehicle design, guided by safety regulations, has rendered these devices largely redundant in most circumstances. |