[thefourthchime]

The article glides over the fact that FMVSS 226 is a performance standard, not a materials mandate. Manufacturers can stick with tempered glass if they beef up the side curtain airbags enough to prevent ejection, which is exactly what happens on a lot of base models and rear windows to keep BOM costs down. The list of brands using laminated glass is accurate, but it applies mostly to their premium trims or front rows only.

There is also the issue of fleet turnover. With the average age of US vehicles pushing 13 years, the install base is still overwhelmingly tempered glass. Writing off the tool entirely because new luxury cars have moved on ignores the reality of what people are actually driving. You are statistically much more likely to be trapped in a 2012 Civic than a 2025 S-Class.

[alistairSH]

It did cover that. And half the tools couldn’t break the tempered glass either.

[sndean]

The smartest thing to do would be to check your car’s windows for any indication (the AAA report, page 19, cited in the article has examples) of whether they’re laminated or tempered. AFAICT, whether my new-ish Subaru Ascent’s windows are laminated depends on location (front or rear) and installation differs between the Ascent trims. Best to check for your specific car and where you’re likeliest to be sitting.

[walletdrainer]

> You are statistically much more likely to be trapped in a 2012 Civic than a 2025 S-Class.

This is probably also very much true on a per mile basis.

[potato3732842]

If you can afford an 2025 S-class you can afford to fly for medium distance travel, you probably aren't slogging out a long commute because you live in one of those rich inner suburbs. You leave the house at reasonable hours and get home at reasonable hours, etc, etc.

There's all sorts of stuff that's just a proxy for generalized correlation with wealth and wealthy lifestyles.

[bayindirh]

> The article glides over the fact that FMVSS 226 is a performance standard, not a materials mandate.

Nope. The article states the following just after the table:

> It's true that not all automakers have switched over to laminated glass for the side windows; the FMVSS 226 law stipulates that you can get around it if you install elaborate side airbags that also prevent ejection.

[alwa]

As the grandparent points out, although the article says that, the actual regulation does not. The regulation says you have to prevent side ejections, it doesn’t say how. You can read it yourself:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/571.226

> Ejection mitigation countermeasure means a device or devices, except seat belts, integrated into the vehicle that reduce the likelihood of occupant ejection through a side window opening, and that requires no action by the occupant for activation.

Lamination and side airbags seem to be the way it’s usually done today, but nothing prevents a better way.