Which is safer in autos, tempered glass or laminated?

[snopes]

There's no clear choice. Laminated windows are stronger -- good in a wreck but bad if you're trapped underwater.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedi...,3311604.story

[DrRocket]

Well, I guess the trick is to keep your car above sea level then, eh???

[diddy]

I think you can hedge your bets that you are going to be in a regular car accident on the road than you being trapped underwater. It just isn't as common.

Plus aren't their tools out there that are designed to break your windows in just this circumstance?

[Beachlife!]

Originally Posted by diddy

I think you can hedge your bets that you are going to be in a regular car accident on the road than you being trapped underwater. It just isn't as common.

Plus aren't their tools out there that are designed to break your windows in just this circumstance?

My thoughts exactly. Getting into an accident in which glass is shattered is fairly common. Being in a situation in which you entire car is submerged in water is a very rare occurence. It's really a no brainer.

[musicgeek]

Originally Posted by diddy

I think you can hedge your bets that you are going to be in a regular car accident on the road than you being trapped underwater. It just isn't as common.

Plus aren't their tools out there that are designed to break your windows in just this circumstance?

Mythbusters did the "trapped underwater" routine, and found that both types of commercially available tools (the hammer type and the center punch type) were extremely effective and virtually instantaneous in breaking the laminated glass windows.

[Alchemy]

In 2005, a jury in Zavala County in Texas slammed Ford Motor Co. with a $28-million verdict involving the death of two young people during a rollover accident. Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that Ford knew that laminated safety glass would help prevent ejection.

Ford argued unsuccessfully that it was meeting all federal rules and regulations. The company settled the case for a reduced amount, Kinley said.

I'm curious how that works. The side and rear windows are tempered glass to reduce blunt trauma injury to passengers. Why should a car company design glass to crush the skulls of passengers only to slightly reduce the chance of death to passengers who do not use safety belts?

And couldn't Ford be sued anyway for the fact the windows can be rolled down? The fact the windows can be rolled down completely negates the vague safety benefit of laminated glass, I would think.

Additionally, how can Ford get a jury verdict against it, and THEN agree to a settlement?

[Graeybeard]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

Additionally, how can Ford get a jury verdict against it, and THEN agree to a settlement?

I think what they do is Ford agrees to not appeal and possibly get the verdict overturned, or the award reduced in exchange for the reduced settlement amount.

GB

[Griffin2020]

Originally Posted by musicgeek

Mythbusters did the "trapped underwater" routine, and found that both types of commercially available tools (the hammer type and the center punch type) were extremely effective and virtually instantaneous in breaking the laminated glass windows.

Actually, I believe it was in breaking the Tempered glass, not the laminated.

[musicgeek]

Originally Posted by Griffin2020

Actually, I believe it was in breaking the Tempered glass, not the laminated.

D'oh! I think you're right; it was the side windows they were breaking. To be fair though, I've personally seen rescue workers demonstrate the center punch on a front windshield; it pops the glass nicely, leaving you to cut through the laminate film. Don't know how useful that is to a trapped driver, though.