It's easy to convince EDC people to buy EDC things. But how do you convince non-EDC folks to buy your product? Simple: Fear. The global "car escape tool market," according to market research firm Data Insights Market, is valued at $500 this year, projected to grow 7% a year and
Firefighter EMT here. Over 15 years. Glass breaking happens pretty often and we have plenty of ways with doing that. Almost none of us carry a dedicated seatbelt cutter at the ready. If I can’t get to the buckle very easily, I still just use a knife. Also works great for cutting the side airbags out of the way, which a seatbelt cutter can’t do. For the seatbelts I’m just very careful with the knife, and for the airbags I cut reaching in and with the knife facing outwards and away from the patient. Trying to carry and use a seatbelt cutter just simply isn’t worth the limited space I have to carry things that are quickly accessible. Too much of a one trick pony.
Knives are definitely easy. I still stand by my seatbelt cutter though; I was once in an accident, I was unconscious for a bit, concussed, airbags, smoke coming in, etc. No one was close, I was too fucked up to figure out the seatbelt, but I remembered my cutter on the door panel. Could a knife have done it? Yes. Was I in a state where I could safely handle a knife without hurting myself? Probably not. I wouldn’t recommend a cutter as an emt tool, but as a driver I’ll always keep mine.
I’m not speaking from an occupants perspective. I’m only chiming to provide some added context to the articles claims of the cutters primarily only being useful for rescue personnel.
I will say that the chances where a person crashes, and no one else is around, and the vehicle is on fire or there’s a reason the occupant should leave the seat after a severe crash, and the cutter would stay reachable, is very, very rare. Vehicles almost never catch on fire from crashes. Beyond that, unless you’re in BFE without a phone or anyone else around, it’s usually best you stay in place.
Firefighter EMT here. Over 15 years. Glass breaking happens pretty often and we have plenty of ways with doing that. Almost none of us carry a dedicated seatbelt cutter at the ready. If I can’t get to the buckle very easily, I still just use a knife. Also works great for cutting the side airbags out of the way, which a seatbelt cutter can’t do. For the seatbelts I’m just very careful with the knife, and for the airbags I cut reaching in and with the knife facing outwards and away from the patient. Trying to carry and use a seatbelt cutter just simply isn’t worth the limited space I have to carry things that are quickly accessible. Too much of a one trick pony.
Knives are definitely easy. I still stand by my seatbelt cutter though; I was once in an accident, I was unconscious for a bit, concussed, airbags, smoke coming in, etc. No one was close, I was too fucked up to figure out the seatbelt, but I remembered my cutter on the door panel. Could a knife have done it? Yes. Was I in a state where I could safely handle a knife without hurting myself? Probably not. I wouldn’t recommend a cutter as an emt tool, but as a driver I’ll always keep mine.
I’m not speaking from an occupants perspective. I’m only chiming to provide some added context to the articles claims of the cutters primarily only being useful for rescue personnel.
I will say that the chances where a person crashes, and no one else is around, and the vehicle is on fire or there’s a reason the occupant should leave the seat after a severe crash, and the cutter would stay reachable, is very, very rare. Vehicles almost never catch on fire from crashes. Beyond that, unless you’re in BFE without a phone or anyone else around, it’s usually best you stay in place.