Like most people in this country, my family is concerned with 
automobile safety and the advances in technology that are 
designed and implemented to help make driving safer. I know my 
Senators and Representative on Capitol Hill are committed to 
this issue also.  With that in mind, I am sure that congress 
would be interested in reviewing a vehicle safety that is 
simple, practical, inexpensive, and a good solution to an 
automotive safety problem that NHTSA says is responsible for 
more than 3000 deaths since 1993.

I know from recent articles that some government officials, 
including Norman Mineta, the Transportation Secretary and Dr. 
Jeffery Runge the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, repeatedly say that vehicle safety is high on 
President Bush’s domestic agenda.  Death due to entrapment 
solely because a occupant cannot open a door or window is a 
real danger that is taking a life on average every thirty hours.

A typical scenario has a vehicle inadvertently ending up in a 
body of water, the doors and windows become inoperable and the 
occupant(s) drown.   

NHTSA and the auto industry has already set a good precedent by 
enacting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 401 which 
mandated internal trunk latch releases to prevent entrapment in 
the trunks of vehicles.  I believe that the solution of adding 
a pull handle was simple, practical and inexpensive.  I think 
that the same consideration should be given to the passenger 
compartment of all motor vehicles as soon as possible.  I know 
that Title 49 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations 
provides the guidance necessary to initiate this process that 
will hopefully result in a significant improvement to vehicle 
safety. 

A simple solution to this problem is to provide all occupants 
of all cars and light trucks sold in this country the means to 
break the side window glass which facilitates an egress pathway 
from the vehicle.  This list of recommendations that follows 
will insure that such a device is as effective and safe as 
possible;

- The seatbelt from an occupant must be removed before 
vehicle’s side window is opened to the dangers of water or 
fire. If people can break the glass before being forced to 
remove their belt, this could be dangerous.

- Like the trunk latch release, escape system should be similar 
across all model lines. In an emergency, it should not be 
necessary to search for various escape systems.  Think about 
how hard it is now to find door latch and window controls in a 
strange car in the dark. 

- Escape system should be available to each seating row and on 
both sides of a vehicle. All people in every seat deserve the 
chance to break the glass closest to them and get out. 

- Escape system should not be easy to remove from the vehicle.  
It should be mounted in a fashion that keeps it inside the car 
and makes it difficult to remove or lose. 

- Escape system should not depend on the vehicle’s power 
systems.  In accidents, power systems can fail. 

- Escape system should be available on opening and non opening 
side windows where there are seats. 

- Escape system should not be automatic in case occupants are 
not ready to exit. 

- Escape system should be easy to understand and use. 

A solution that fits these requirements is to put a small cone 
shaped point at the end of the male latch plate of the seatbelt 
assembly.  An occupant uses it to strike and break the side 
window glass.  It is a proven and effective measure, and it 
fits the above requirements.  It has been featured on several 
newscasts and should be seriously considered as an addition to 
vehicles available for sale in the United States.