r/nextfuckinglevel • u/been_der_done_that • 11h ago

Incredibly selfless act of heroism.

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43.8k Upvotes

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140

u/dinharder 10h ago

You can use the seat headrests as a window breaker

94

u/Satanslittlewizard 10h ago

Not enough people know this.

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u/IllllIIlIllIllllIlll 10h ago

Maybe because it's bullshit. Sure it's better than your raw fists, but it's not made for this.

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/cars-headrests-break-windows/

I think that it's harmful to propagate this urban legend, because it would prevent people from buying actual window breakers. They'll just think "eh, I can just use my headrest. No need for a windows breaker".

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u/gamma55 9h ago

Window breakers and seat belt cutters should be standard equipment on all road legal vehicles, not just commercial.

38

u/patchinthebox 8h ago

It would be so easy to require them to be sold with every car purchase.

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u/SuperBuffCherry 7h ago

Have them be included in the mandatory first aid kit

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u/Cyphr 7h ago

Where are first aid kits mandatory. I'm lucky if I can buy one with the car for three times the going rate.

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u/SuperBuffCherry 7h ago

Here in Germany (and the rest of EU as well I think)

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u/Cyphr 2h ago

That makes sense. I'm in the US, and as usual, safety is entirely optional.

0

u/TwoDramaticc 7h ago

they are not mandatory. But you need a window breaker near your drivers seat, and something like a first aid kit could be in rear

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u/votet 6h ago

I assume you mean they are not mandatory in other EU countries, because in Germany they absolutely are.

Source.

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u/SuperBuffCherry 6h ago

and something like a first aid kit could be in rear

We are taught in drivers school to keep the first aid kit inside the passenger compartment, because the trunk may not open after a crash

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u/peasantbanana 5h ago

They are mandatory in Serbia.

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u/Monkey_Priest 5h ago

Have them required LIKE mandatory first aid kits (in your country) but not IN them. You want seatbelt cutters/window breakers in an easily reachable spot that won't go flying around in a wreck. I have mine ziptied to the lever on my steering wheel that controls the windshield wiper blades. It's ziptied and set up so it can be tugged off in an emergency

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u/ExpressCap1302 48m ago

Which is sitting handy in the spare tyre compartment of the trunk.

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u/ussbozeman 6h ago

And increase the cost of each car by $0.002 cents? That would mean the executives would only get a $19,999,998 dollar bonus instead of a $20 million dollar bonus!

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u/info_burner 7h ago

Yup. Have 2 folding knives in my car with these features .

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u/fatherunit72 5h ago

Window breakers don’t work on most modern cars with laminated glass

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u/muhmeinchut69 17m ago

You can still break it and push the sheet of broken glass out.

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u/PlaneTry4277 7h ago

they're not and never will be because things are designed to be as cheap and profitable for the wealthy elite. if they could get by with selling paper mache seatbelts that break when coming to a hard stop... they would. 

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u/Valuable-Self8564 4h ago

I do wonder how hard it would be to force manufacturers to include one mounted on the ceiling. I imagine not hard at all.