What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
How to Get Out of a Car Safely If the Doors Won’t Open depends on the danger: on dry land, try other exits and the vehicle’s manual release; if there is fire or another immediate threat, leave through a usable exit as quickly as you safely can. A crash, a vehicle submerged in still water, and rapidly moving floodwater call for different responses. If you are injured or trapped, contact emergency services when circumstances permit and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
What to do if the car is on land and there is no immediate danger
If the vehicle is stable and there is no fire, smoke, or rising water, take a moment to check the available exits rather than forcing a jammed door.
- Try another door. If a passenger door or rear door opens normally, use it.
- Check the interior lock and handle. A lock or electronic fault may affect one control but not another.
- Try a functioning window control. If a window opens, it may provide an exit if you can use it safely.
- Look up your vehicle’s emergency door release. Consult the owner’s manual for the specific model and year, especially for an electric vehicle. The U.S. Fire Administration says manual releases may be near the handle, in a door pocket, under a cover, below the window switch, near the floor, or behind interior trim. The location and operating method vary by vehicle, so do not assume another make’s instructions apply. USFA guidance on electric-vehicle door releases.
If you cannot exit and the situation becomes dangerous, call your local emergency number and give the vehicle’s location and the nature of the hazard. Do not pull or push forcefully if an injury may be worsened.
If fire, smoke, or another immediate threat makes staying inside dangerous
Use a working door or window and move away from the vehicle. If a door is unusable and a side window is the only practical exit, an escape tool may help only if it can break that particular glass. AAA advises trying to escape before calling 911 when a vehicle has hit water or is on fire; that advice is for the U.S. and does not replace local emergency guidance. AAA’s 2019 vehicle escape tool guidance.
#1 Best Overall
- 2-in-1 emergency-escape tool provides a window hammer and seat-belt cutter; 2-pack
- Tungsten double-head hammer: 1800HV hardness, 3 times stronger than common carbon steel – for instant car-door window breakage
- Sharp blade for easily cutting through a seat belt; bright-orange plastic handle provides a secure grip
- Designed to help escape from a sinking, over-turned, crashed, or burning car
- Protective bracket included for safe storage; store in center console or driver-side door pocket
Check whether the window is tempered or laminated
In AAA’s 2019 testing, most tested vehicle escape tools broke tempered side windows, but none penetrated laminated glass. Some vehicles use different glass in different window positions, so do not assume the front side window, rear side window, and windshield have the same construction. Check the markings on the relevant window or ask the vehicle manufacturer. AAA’s findings and glass guidance.
A vehicle escape tool with a glass breaker and seat-belt cutter is preparedness equipment, not a guarantee of escape. Keep it somewhere reachable while you are seated and restrained, and check that it is appropriate for the glass in your vehicle. AAA notes that many cars have at least one tempered window even as more cars use laminated side glass; the exact location matters. AAA’s explanation of vehicle window glass.
Rank #2
- The original 2-in-1 lifesaving compact car safety tool: this emergency keychain hammer provides peace of mind in case of car entrapment. Can be used in various situations: rollover, electrical system failure, car fire, floods, sinking car accident.
- Jammed seatbelt cutter: the razor-sharp, stainless-steel blade allows to cut a jammed seat belt in no time. Slice the seat belt diagonally for a quick and clean cut. Can be used multiple times.
- Tempered glass window breaker: the solid, heavy-duty, stainless-steel spike easily breaks tempered glass car side windows. Hit preferably one of the corners of the window. Spring-loaded mechanism and resets after each use. Reusable multiple times.
- Made in USA. We pride ourselves in offering efficient and reliable, made in the US, safety tools for the last 20 years.
- Trusted by first responders, Law Enforcement and EMTs and carried by more than 15 million motorists worldwide. The resqme seat belt cutter and window breaker saves a life on average every 15 days. Tested and certified by TUV, a German certification.
If the vehicle is in water
Rapidly moving floodwater
Ready.gov’s advice for a vehicle trapped in rapidly moving water is to stay inside. If water rises inside, seek refuge on the roof. Do not attempt to walk or swim through fast-moving floodwater. This guidance is specific to rapidly moving water. Ready.gov: Floods.
Submerged in still water
Do not treat a glass-breaker tool as a complete escape plan underwater. AAA warns that a hammer-style tool may be ineffective underwater, and its 2019 tests found that tested tools did not penetrate laminated glass. The situation is distinct from a vehicle caught in fast-moving floodwater; follow emergency-service instructions where possible. AAA’s tool limitations.
Rank #3
- Vehicle Window Breaker: This smosun 2-in-1 safehammer glass breaker has a built-in high-pressure spring and a sturdy tungsten steel blade with a hardness of 55. Along with a 20KGF impact force can break the solid window glass in an instant. Note: Metal Tip Stays Inside The Tool - Only Springs Out When Breaking Glass.
- Seat Belt Cutter: The seat belt cutter features a built-in stainless steel cutter with a U-shaped hidden knife edge design, ensuring safety and preventing hand injuries. Simply align the U-shaped mouth of the cutter with the seat belt, push it forward swiftly, and get out of the vehicle easily and quickly.
- Upgraded anti-slip: smosun safety hammer comes with 8 ergonomically designed anti-slip devices made of silicone, which can upgrade your window breaker to an anti-slip handle, making it more comfortable to hold and easy to use. It is an essential safety tool for car emergencies.
- Fashionable & Portable: This escape tool is only 3.6 inches, lightweight, and powerful. It is easy to carry and can be hung on your keychain or on your vehicle's center console using Velcro tape. You can buy two, one in the front row and one in the rear row.
- Widely Used: This glass breaker is suitable for rescue, disaster response, escape, lifesaving, and any unexpected situations. Important Note: Only the tempered glass of the side windows of the car can be broken, and the laminated glass such as the front and rear windshield sunroofs cannot be broken. It's absolutely worth it.
If you are injured, pinned, or unable to get out
Call emergency services as soon as circumstances allow. State your exact location, describe the vehicle and immediate hazards such as fire or water, and follow the dispatcher’s directions. Avoid forceful self-extraction if it could worsen an injury.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Prepare before a door failure happens
- Read the owner’s manual for the location and operation of any manual door release, including model-specific electric-vehicle instructions.
- Check which windows in your vehicle are tempered or laminated; do not infer one window’s glass type from another’s.
- If you carry an escape tool, choose and place it with the vehicle’s glass configuration and seated reach in mind. Its effectiveness is not universal.
- Make sure passengers know which exits and releases are available in your vehicle.
Manufacturer instructions can be model-specific. For example, Kia publishes guidance for its own vehicles; follow your vehicle’s manual rather than applying another manufacturer’s steps universally. Kia: How to escape when the vehicle door won’t open.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Vehicle Window Breaker: This smosun 2-in-1 safehammer glass breaker has a built-in high-pressure spring and a sturdy tungsten steel blade with a hardness of 55. Along with a 20KGF impact force can break the solid window glass in an instant. Note: Metal Tip Stays Inside The Tool - Only Springs Out When Breaking Glass.
- Seat Belt Cutter: The seat belt cutter features a built-in stainless steel cutter with a U-shaped hidden knife edge design, ensuring safety and preventing hand injuries. Simply align the U-shaped mouth of the cutter with the seat belt, push it forward swiftly, and get out of the vehicle easily and quickly.
- Upgraded Anti-Slip Design: The anti-slip bumps of the smosun window breaker have been designed and modified by designers hundreds of times to ensure that the handle is non-slip, comfortable and beautiful. The bumps can prevent your hand from slipping and making mistakes when using it, and break the window in one second, saving every second for your safety.
- Fashionable & Portable: This escape tool is only 4 inches, lightweight, and powerful. It is easy to carry and can be hung on your keychain or on your vehicle's center console using Velcro tape. You can buy two, one in the front row and one in the rear row.
- Widely Used: smosun Glass breaker is suitable for rescue, disaster response, escape, lifesaving, and any unexpected situations. Important Note: Only the tempered glass of the side windows of the car can be broken, and the laminated glass such as the front and rear windshield sunroofs cannot be broken. It's absolutely worth it.
Rank #4
- Professional Auto-Only Survival Tool, Non-Defensive Daily Gear Designed exclusively for vehicle emergency survival scenarios, including car collisions, vehicle rollovers, and water flooding accidents. Equipped with a concealed safety belt cutter and high-strength breaking tip, this tool can quickly release trapped passengers by cutting tight seat belts and breaking automotive side tempered glass, providing reliable life-saving support during driving emergencies.
- Enhanced Underwater Working Stability Featuring an upgraded premium spring mechanism, this car rescue tool maintains stable and effective performance even under water pressure after vehicle submersion. It will not fail in flooded vehicle environments, delivering dependable emergency escape solutions for various water-related driving accidents, strictly for automotive rescue use only.（Special Note: The tungsten steel tip is concealed; it activates only when pressed. It is not missing.）
- Dual-Pack Design for Multi-Car Safety Preparation This package includes two independent auto emergency tools, allowing flexible placement in different vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks and vans. You can store them in car glove boxes, door storage slots and center consoles to prepare adequate safety supplies for family daily driving and long-distance travel.
- Humanized Protective Structure for Safe Storage The sharp cutting blade is fully covered with a dedicated protective cover to effectively prevent accidental scratches and injuries during daily placement and touching. With a lightweight and compact body, it saves car storage space and can be easily grasped with one hand in sudden emergency situations.
- Essential Standard Car Safety Accessory for All Drivers This device is professionally manufactured for automotive emergency escape, and is not allowed for personal defense, physical confrontation, outdoor self-protection or any non-automotive purposes. It is a must-have safety accessory for novice drivers, daily commuters and family travel enthusiasts.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
