Testing Shows Automotive Glassbreakers Can't Break Modern Automotive Glass

The article glides over the fact that FMVSS 226 is a performance standard, not a materials mandate. Manufacturers can stick with tempered glass if they beef up the side curtain airbags enough to prevent ejection, which is exactly what happens on a lot of base models and rear windows to keep BOM costs down. The list of brands using laminated glass is accurate, but it applies mostly to their premium trims or front rows only.

There is also the issue of fleet turnover. With the average age of US vehicles pushing 13 years, the install base is still overwhelmingly tempered glass. Writing off the tool entirely because new luxury cars have moved on ignores the reality of what people are actually driving. You are statistically much more likely to be trapped in a 2012 Civic than a 2025 S-Class.

Have a crowbar handy. It's known to be useful in a variety of situations, including a literal space alien assault.

What are the police to do when some insane sovcit refuses to exit the car over a speeding ticket? Those windows aren’t going to break themselves.

Whats weird is that I know of at least 8 “modern cars” 2018+ that all have had cracked windshields.

3 of them are mine, my 2002 car has taken huge rocks like a champ…

Its big glass im telling you, esp because the recalibration stuff for Assistive Steering is like 7-800 bucks.

Not sure about the "car falls into the lake" scenario, but I know some women who carry these for fear of a crazed Uber driver who might lock them in the car.

I wonder why is this not part of the standard safety tests. It can be done before a crash test, for instance.

oh just get Franz von Holzhausen to throw a ball bearing at it

Useful tech post!

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