LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Monsoon is here.
That means rain and flash flooding can turn streets into death traps in minutes. If your car crashes in the water, how do you escape?
If you're trapped in a car sinking in water, knowing the type of windows you have and having the right tools are key to survival.
I tested two of those tools at "Dis and Dat" auto wrecking: a hammer style and a spring loaded one.
But as AAA a found out, not all escape tools can be a life saver.
Sergio Avila, spokesperson for AAA, says, "During this research used some tools that broke upon impact with glass and that's the last thing that you want to happen in an emergency."
So how do you know if your tools work?
Test it on a piece of soft wood.
"We're looking for that tool to make a pretty significant dent in that material and that means your tool is working properly."
Most tools work on tempered glass, but in AAA's research, none shattered laminated glass, a type that's becoming more common in newer vehicles.
So how do you know what type of glass windows you have? "At the corner of the side window glass there would be a little sticker that would say what type of glass it is if it's laminated or tempered."
If there's no sticker indicating the glass type, you can always call the manufacturer to check.
They also tested myths about being able to use cellphones or a headrest to break tempered glass but that did not work.
"Really escape tools are very important in that scenario and don't rely on other myths or tactics to try and get to that glass," says Avila.
When your vehicle is completely submerged in water hammer style tools are ineffective. Spring loaded ones are best to use.
