reacp911

Mitch McConnels's sister in law died after backing her model X into a pond. Apparently, and news to me, is that many cars now have laminated side glass. The sister in law called on the phone for help, but they could not break the glass

I carry a rescue knife in my volvo that will smash and cut smashed laminated glass, but these days rolling down the window is the preferred method of getting out. You don't have the time to call 911.

Here's a list of cars but who knows how complete it is. You should be able to tell by looking at the edge of the partially rolled down window

https://www.aaa.com/AAA/common/AAR/f...hicle-List.pdf

JustinL

Might I suggest a mythbusters episode to you: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBu...erwater_Car%22

TLDR: Rolling down the windows doesn't work... be calm and then open the door when the pressure is equalized.

reacp911

The car is not going to be submerged immediately. It will not sink like a stone. It'd be like a leaky boat. I'd try the window winder first, after undoing the seat belt, of course, and making sure all the occupants do the same thing

997turbocab

I think what you are trying to say is don't buy a Tesla lol

RealityGT

Don't drive into a pond... problem solved.
Or
Buy a huge pickup truck...

.2PDK

She's lucky she wasn't electrocuted...

RDMcG

Sadly the person who died was 3x over the alcohol limit so would not have been thinking clearly at the time .

reacp911

I suspect that's often the case of people who find themselves in this situation, but from my point of view, it's always a good idea to know where the exit is. I'll check any cars for this technology that I'm going spend any appreciable time in, in the future

RDMcG

Agreed. Noted in the list that all glass on my ST Turbo is laminated. I recall from somewhere that you are always able to kick out the rear glass - of course you have to reach it .

JustinL

There's no way to kick out any glass with water pressure pushing against the other side. Even if you did manage to break the glass the water comes rushing in with a lot of force so you have to wait for it to fill up regardless. Seriously, the mythbusters method has saved people. Just wait, don't use up all the oxygen and then open the door. You guys live in Toronto though, wouldn't double pane glass provide you with more safety from car jackings than it will save you from drownings?

ekam

OP is able to twist the plot from "don't drink & drive" to "omg laminated glass kills".

reacp911

you're right. Situation awareness is a bad thing.

RDMcG

I just don't care about carjackings. I am not going to do dumb things, I don't drive late at night, and if someone sticks a gun in my back they can have the car. Be reasonably alert, but driving around in fear is not going to work for me.

JimV8

AFAIK it was Merc on the S and CL that started using laminated tempered glass for the side windows as its great for adding strength and alot quieter too. I think the best method for escaping a flooding car is the back glass and use a headrest steel post to break the glass. As with all tempered glass its most vulnerable at the edges so that where to strike it.

Aluffman

Back door was open and she was in the car in the pond for 21 minutes, I'm going on a limb and saying everyone helping was likely drunk or useless or quite possibly both. Probably would have still drown in a boxtser with the roof down.