Your soundproof car windows could trap you, new study finds

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Automakers have increasingly turned to laminated acoustic glass to drown out highway noise and keep modern cabins whisper-quiet. While excellent for a peaceful commute, a new study by Korea's National Institute of Fire Service reveals that this luxury upgrade poses a hidden danger during an underwater emergency. The very material designed to protect you from exterior noise could trap you inside a sinking vehicle.

The classic automotive survival playbook — grabbing the seat headrest and smashing the side window with its metal prongs — is dangerously outdated.

The institute's survival simulations showed that on standard tempered glass, using a headrest prong is incredibly difficult because the car's rubber molding and window frame absorb the brunt of the impact. However, if you use a dedicated emergency tool like a rescue hammer or a spring-loaded punch, tempered glass shatters relatively easily, provided you avoid the center and aim repeatedly for the corners.

If your vehicle is equipped with laminated acoustic glass, you are facing a literal brick wall. Because of a tough, plastic safety film sandwiched between the glass layers, heavy rescue hammers and tactical punches only leave localized, spiderweb dents. Breaking through it to create an escape hatch in a rapidly filling cabin is nearly impossible under pressure.

"This simulation focuses on actual escape potential, not just whether the glass breaks," said Kim Yeon-sang, head of the institute, urging drivers to inspect their vehicles.

To protect yourself, safety officials recommend a quick homework assignment: check the bottom corners of your side windows for the words "tempered" or "laminated". If it says laminated, shattering the window in an emergency would be impossible. If you ever hit deep water, you must roll the windows down immediately while the electronics still work, or prepare to escape through the trunk if you drive an SUV.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.