A Korean Coast Guard rescue worker used an emergency escape hammer to break the rear window of a submerged car and save a man [1].
This incident underscores a growing safety concern regarding the effectiveness of standard rescue tools against the advanced materials used in modern automotive manufacturing.
The rescue took place in the sea off the Korean coast during a recent monsoon season, when sudden heavy rain caused vehicles to flood [1, 2]. The victim, a man in his 50s [1], was trapped inside the passenger car as it sank. The rescue worker successfully shattered the rear window to extract the man from the vehicle [1, 2].
Despite the success of this specific rescue, subsequent testing revealed a critical vulnerability in emergency preparedness. Experts found that laminated safety glass—commonly installed in luxury vehicles and many new electric cars—does not shatter as easily as traditional tempered glass when struck by a standard emergency hammer [1, 2].
Traditional tempered glass is designed to crack into small, blunt pieces upon impact, allowing rescuers or occupants to clear a path quickly. Laminated glass, however, consists of a plastic interlayer that holds the glass together even after it is cracked. This design prevents shards from flying into the cabin during a crash, but creates a significant barrier during water rescues [1, 2].
Park Min-young said that laminated glass affects the time it takes for electronic devices to operate during a flooding accident [1]. Because electronic window controls often fail when submerged, the inability to break the glass manually can leave occupants trapped as the vehicle fills with water [1, 2].
“Laminated safety glass in modern electric and luxury cars does not shatter easily with the hammer.”
The shift toward laminated glass for acoustic insulation and safety in high-end and electric vehicles creates a paradox where a feature designed to protect passengers during a collision may hinder their escape during a submersion event. As these materials become standard, traditional emergency hammers may become obsolete, necessitating new rescue protocols or specialized tools capable of penetrating reinforced glass.
