Seatbelt buckles: Unlikely saviours in vehicle emergencies

Seatbelts are undoubtedly one of the greatest inventions in humanity's history. They have already saved thousands of lives during accidents. However, not everyone knows they can also be helpful when we need to get out of a vehicle in an emergency.

After an accident, it often happens that the car doors are so severely damaged that opening them from the inside is impossible. In such cases, it is easier to open the doors from the outside, using a solid support point. With the help of another person, you can sometimes even tear them off. Firefighters sometimes use this technique.

Tearing off the doors is not always possible, though. What's more, in a crisis, you must act quickly. Then, it's worth focusing on the weakest element, the windows. The best tool for breaking them appears to be a hammer, although few people carry one in their car. Here is where seatbelts, or rather their buckle, come in handy.

We press a metal element into the lock, the latch receptacle, to fasten the belts. It's worth noting that it is excellent, made of thick steel sheet and quite comfortable to hold.

This element can break a side window, allowing you to exit the car. It's worth remembering in a crisis, though we hope no one ever needs to test this themselves.