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4 February, 2020 By: Tatum Stafford
Vehicle manufacturers across the world are constantly working to make modern cars safer.
Whether it’s indestructible window glass, self-locking functionality or supplementary airbags, there are plenty of ways your car can keep you safe on the road.
But unfortunately, these safety features can work against you when your car is parked. It is becoming increasingly difficult to gain entry into modern cars in emergency situations, and as a result, more accidental lock-ins are resulting in tragic outcomes.
Ray Farrugia has been an RAC Patrol for nearly 23 years, and in this time he has attended multiple jobs where children and pets have been locked in the car. Here are some of the challenges he's faced due to high-tech car safety features.
The most difficult cars to break into in an emergency
Due to a combination of toughened window glass, complicated locking systems and other technological safety features, European and later-American car brands are generally the toughest cars to break into in an emergency.
Volkswagen, Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz have been identified by our Patrols as the four hardest car brands to gain emergency entry into.
BMWs are among the toughest car makes to break into in an emergency
What car technologies limit emergency access?
'Break-proof' windows
There is an increased number of vehicles on the Australian market with ‘break-proof’ or laminated side windows. This toughened glass is basically indestructible.
A common reason for the use of ‘break-proof’ glass windows is to prevent bodily harm in case of a car roll-over in a collision. If an incident were to occur, the toughened glass would keep the vehicle’s occupants safe by ensuring they are all intact and adequately cushioned by airbags.
However, this ‘break-proof’ glass has limitations. For instance, if a car’s glass is too tough to be broken by anyone, our Patrols are unable to break into it in an emergency situation – such as when a child or pet is locked inside.
Close to 18 years ago, Patrol Ray encountered a new model BMW with toughened glass windows at an incident in Claremont.
“It was during a weekday, and on the way to the job I rang BMW, told them the registration number, and luckily they had enough information to tell me that it had special windows.
“I then called the fire brigade to meet me there – but because the child had been in there for so long, it felt like it was a life or death situation. So I tried my best to break a small window in the back door.
“Maybe someone was looking out for me that day, because I managed to get into the vehicle. I still remember it to this day, and I could probably navigate my way there to this day because it was quite horrific for us all.”
Toughened glass windows limit a Patrol's chance of emergency access
Double-locking systems
Unfortunately, it’s not just a car’s toughened windows that limit emergency access. As vehicles are becoming increasingly automatic, car keys are becoming more and more obsolete.
Often referred to as auto or self-locking systems, many modern cars will re-lock their doors as a courtesy if the keyholder were to open and close any door that is not the drivers’.
When Ray received a call-out for a child locked in a new Volkswagen van, he suspected an automatic locking feature may be the culprit.
“The woman pressed the unlock button, slid the side door open, and put her newborn baby in a capsule in the back seat. Her hands were full, and instead of putting the key in her pocket, she threw the key over into the front seat to empty her hands. When she closed that back door, the car re-deadlocked.
“As far as she was aware, she had unlocked the car already. But because of the car’s features, it re-locked itself.
“To get to the key, I used air pillows and pumped the door out, without damaging it, and happened to flip the key over with a long rod. I then pushed the unlock button on the remote on the seat from outside of the car, and unlocked the vehicle.
“That’s how hard and involved it gets when we try to unlock these vehicles. It takes critical time – and on a hot day you don’t always have time to spare.”
As cars are becoming more automatic, car keys are becoming more obsolete
What you should know about your car
If you’re the owner of one of the car makes mentioned above, or if you suspect your car has toughened glass windows or an intricate locking system, it pays to do your research.
If you're in an emergency situation and require one of our Patrols to gain entry to your car, it is essential to inform the RAC staff member of your car's correct make and model. They can then inform the assigned Patrol who will be ready to help.
In Ray’s experience, inadequate knowledge of what your vehicle is capable of is one of the biggest mistakes a car owner can make.
“These days we know everything our phone can do, but we don’t know everything about the car we drive – except that it starts when it starts and it stops when it stops.
“I think it’s very important, if you’ve got children especially, to know how your car locks and unlocks, and the type of glass it has.”
If you’re ever feeling unsure of your car’s safety features, contact your dealer or check your owner’s manual.
We rescue 440 WA kids accidentally locked in cars each year
To avoid an accidental lock in, remember to keep your keys on you.
