Car windows are significantly more durable than the ones you’d find at home with good reason. After all, besides the elements, they also have to contend with anything you encounter on and off the road, from great winds to rocks kicked up by the wheels.
You might often see videos of people slamming into window glass and breaking it with nothing more than their bodies. However, is it possible to do the same with the glass installed on your car? What methods can safely break car glass?
It pays to know the answer to these, as you never know when you might need to get into your ride fast when you don’t have your keys or during emergencies.
What Happens if You Punch a Car Window?
Unfortunately, punching a car window is seldom enough to break it. What’s more likely is you getting arm, hand, and wrist injuries. In some cases, you might even break your bones.
While it’s technically possible to break through a car window with your body alone, it’s much safer and easier to do so with tools. However, this doesn’t mean breaking windows isn’t dangerous.
Why Are Car Windows So Durable?
Automotive window glass is designed to withstand collision accidents, making it extremely tough and durable. It’s created using special manufacturing techniques. The two most common types of automotive window glass are laminated glass and tempered glass.
Laminated Glass
Laminated glass is used to create windshields, and it’s made of polyvinyl butyral sandwiched between two layers of glass. Though this glass isn’t indestructible, it’s a lot harder to destroy compared to tempered glass.
- Designed to absorb shock during collisions, keeping drivers and passengers safe
- Reduces the risk of passengers flying out of the vehicle in accidents
- Seldom shatters into sharp shards and fragments
Tempered Glass
While windshields are usually made of laminated glass, side and back windows are usually made of tempered glass.
- The glass is heated and cooled at fast rates for enhanced durability
- Breaks into dull shards that are less likely to injure passengers and drivers
- Has both high compressive strength and tensile strength
How to Smash a Car Window Safely and Effectively
Though these windows are there to protect drivers and passengers alike from harm, there are times when people will need to break them. For example, if the car got into a collision that rendered the car doors useless, the passengers trapped inside might need to break the glass to get out.
It takes a lot of force to break car windows. If possible, make sure to wear protective equipment before breaking a window. Choose the right window to break and use tools to make breaking the window much easier.
Wear Protective Equipment
If you can help it, always wear protective equipment, such as safety goggles and gloves, before smashing a car window. Shards fly and objects inside your car get displaced when smashing car windows, so it’s best to protect your hands and face as much as possible.
Choose the Right Window
If you’re trying to break in or out of a vehicle, it’s best to smash the side windows. These windows are made of tempered glass, which is easier to break compared to the laminated glass of windshields. Bear in mind that tempered glass shatters, so watch out for flying shards.
Use the Right Tools
Another tip to keep in mind when smashing a car window is to use tools and objects whenever they’re available. Typically, you’ll want hard and sharp items such as screwdrivers, however, other items can also get the job done.
What Objects Can You Use to Break Through a Car Window?
There are times when you might need to break through a car window from the inside or the outside of a vehicle. Whether it’s you or someone else who’s trapped in a vehicle, always keep an eye out for hard, sharp items to help you break the windows.
These items include (but are not limited to) headrests, spark plugs, hammers, and seat belt hooks.
Headrest
If you can remove the headrest from your seat, you can use it to smash the corners of your vehicle’s side windows. The metal rods that lock the headrest in place make for excellent emergency tools for breaking glass.
Spark Plugs
If you have any in your vehicle, you can use spark plugs to break car windows open. They’re hard, sharp, and made of durable metal, which makes them perfect for shattering glass.
Hammer
One of the best items you can use to break a car window is a hammer. If you have an emergency kit, which is one of the essential car accessories to have when you’re always on the go, make sure it includes this tool. Hammers have a solid grip and are easy to use. Just mind the flying shards.
Seat Belt Hooks
Like spark plugs, you can use seat belt hooks to break the corners of a car window. Just mind your fingers because these hooks are small and difficult to get a solid grip on.
Can You Smash a Car Window Without Tools?
Though it’s possible to smash a car window open without tools, it’s recommended to avoid doing so unless you’re completely out of options.
Merely punching the window with your fists isn’t going to work, however, you can break a window with your legs or elbows. Bear in mind that doing so comes with certain risks. For example, you might injure your arm or your leg if you don’t attempt to smash the window the safe and correct way.
When smashing car windows with your elbows or legs, aim for the corners of the window. Don’t hit the center of the window because that’s where it is reinforced the most. It’s also better to use your legs over your elbows because you can easily adjust your position for more power.
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
