Stuck in a car scenario

I've been asking myself a question and I'd like to submit it to you by the form of a scenario... with some twists.

I assume that you EDC some form of blade (folder, fixed, multitool) on you. Here it is:
You are driving your car alone, your safety belt is attached and you EDC some form of blade (folder, fixed, multitool) on yourself.
Bang! you are in an accident. For now you are not hurt but you can't detach your safety belt, the mechanism is blocked and nobody can help you. You say to yourself: "No problemo, I've got a blade on me".

That was the senario. Now here is the question: how do you get that blade out?

Now comes the twists:
- Same scenario, but your legs are broken.
- Same scenario, but your arm (the one on the same side as your blade) is broken.
- Same scenario, but your it's winter and you are wearing a winter coat.
- Same scenario, but the car is upside down.

Just for the fun of it, get into your car attach your safety belt and try to get that folder out of your pocket pants or you belt pouch. The way I see it you need a fair amount of wiggling to access it and take it out.
Should it be worn somewhere else when in the car?

Stefan

There is a different appraoch to this scenario. Get a seatbelt cutter and attach it where you can reach it with either hand. That´s fairly cheap and save. The cutters are build to cut in confined spaces with virtually no risk of injury. When it´s attached in the car you can´t forget it.

And what if you are not in your car?

Stefan

"Same scenario, but your arm (the one on the same side as your blade) is broken."

Wahh! I keep a blade on both sides. Now both my arms are broken!

The cutters are cheap, flat and lightweight. One in the pocket of the shirt can´t hurt.

Our retired CHiP 'OldBaldGuy' has posted before stating he never saw a restraining belt failure. I've had one occasion to use a knife in a roadside emergency. A VW convertable was in an accident.The driver's door was buckled and the passenger side blocked by a retaining wall. Older Beetles are somewhat notorious for fuel line leaks and engine fires. There was some fuel leakage and the driver screaming to get out. I cut the top open and he climbed out. Then I had to literally force him into my tank Volvo. Standing anywhere on a California freeway is asking for it. My greatest concern is going off the roadways. Stories are legion of people found injured or deceased sitting wrecked beyond immediate view. I would be more concerned with a accessable cellphone, whistle or best of all portable horn on a compressed charge.

I'm in the same boat as Brangdon 2 broke arms because I have one on each side also. Wave oneside PSK II on the other.

The hardest would be in winter gear but I should be able to unzip and cross draw is one arm works.

With 2 broke legs I could get the belt cut but don't know if I could then get out.

A noise maker especially a whistle is a very good idea.

"And what if you are not in your car?"

What? You just said you were in your car! All of my seatbelts are inside the car. If you're outside the car, the chances are excellent that you don't need to cut your seatbelt.

Am I missing something here?

Sue

I have a Spyderco in my right side hip pocket EDC, so even with a broken arm, I could reach the knife and extract myself.
A whistle or noise producing device does sound like a wonderful idea,
now I know what to do with a freebie whistle that I picked up recently.

I mean being a passenger in someone elses car!

Stefan

But that's not what you outlined in the scenario: "You are driving your car alone" <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

However, to answer anyway: I have a ResQMe tool secured via a short lanyard to the gear shift lever in both our vehicles. It is mounted in such a way as to be accessible to either hand, right side up or upside down. So, that's one possible solution.

Another would be to use the Spyderco clipped in my left front pocket, or the Microtech or Emerson blade in my right rear, or, last, but not least, the blade on the Vic SAK in my R front pocket.

Before you protest (or change the scenario again... <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />), let me state that I do practice getting those knives out & deployed from time to time--throughout the year, to adjust to different clothing worn, too.

Also, if it's cold enough for a jacket, I also keep a blade in my winter coats. They're accessible to either hand, even when buckled in. I even have a Gerber 200 LST as a zipper pull on one of them.

Hmmmm...I've been wondering what that clanking noise was when I walk...

David <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I´ve seen one belt buckle that failed to open after an accident. We needed hydraulic gear to pry the door open (or better rip it out of it hinges). The lady was very heavy and started to get overly excited while being restrained. To save nerves we cut the belt strands at the side of the door.
The belt cutter work great to cut open cloth to examine the extend of an injury so having it can´t hurt.
Cell phone and whistle are always on me (except when I´m in bed or in the shower). So I agree with you on those.

I think what he means is "What if you're in a car that is not yours?", e.g., you've borrowed someone else's car or you're in a rental car.

Given that scenario (I've been in an auto accident, and I'm injured)...
Unless there's an urgent need to get out of the vehicle (i.e., it's sinking in a pond or is on fire), assuming I can move at all, the first tool I'd reach for is my mobile phone or ham radio to call for help. Then I'd just sit there until someone came. The "don't move an injured person unless absolutely neccesary" rule still applies even when the injury is to you.

Dave F>

Point taken, keep a seat belt cutter accessible in the car.

What I was wondering, was if you relocated your blades else where everytime you where in a car or if you kept it in your pocket. Because when it is in your pocket it is not easy to reach.

Stefan

I had a client once who driving a Ford Probe with motorized blets when she was washed off an unmarked low water crossing. The Probe had an emergency release at the upper attachment point, but over time, sun/heat had welded the thing shut. When we recovered the car, it was impossible to get it to release. She manged to pull enough slack into the belt to wiggle out from under it and get out of the car. Manual window drives, thankfully.

She had a truly wonderful story to tell -- she washed 3 MILES downstream from where she went in. She had to duck under water several times to keep from getting brained by bridges that were a matter of inches above the level of the water. She finally washed up against a partially submerged chain link fence, which several bystanders pulled over to get her free.

Relocation of blades is not always feasible. When I´m still capable to use it I can access it in the front pocket of my shirt. It doesn´t matter whether the arm on the same side or on the off side remains useable.
When I buy a shirt I insist on two front pockets with flaps.