I saw this statement on Facebook:



This seems like nonsense to me. What do you think?

Alright, this video (in Japanese) shows a technique -- you use the headrest as a pry bar, not as a punch. I think the video is clear enough that you don't need to know Japanese to understand what's going on. The most important part begins around 0:24.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZTa8Nh0VlE

If it were true, it would at least be mentioned in the manuals (which very few people actually read).
It might be possible to use it but I´d rather rely on my Resqme. The bulk of the headrest is going to make it awkward at least.

Nothing to this effect in either of our car manuals (1914 Prius and 2005 Sentra) and I have read through both of them, with particular emphasis on the section on safety. There is nothing in either manual about using the headrest as an escape tool. This sounds like sliced baloney to me...Why would anyone develop a safety feature and then not mention it?

In real world terms, how significant would such a feature be. How often would one be able to use such a feature?

There is no way it would be addressed in your 1914 Prius manual. Printing costs were simply too high to address every feature that came with the automobile at the time. Sadly, all the designers have died, otherwise I'd have suggested you contact the company directly to inquire.

The 1914 Prius was definitely ahead of its time, but did it even have head-rests?

Time blurs when you reach geezerdom! how about 2014 Prius? The owner's manual for the 1914 Prius is a rare collector'site.... Footnote: in 1914, electric cars (but not the Toyota Prius) were surprisingly common.

I think hikermor has outed himself as Marty McFly...

I was unaware of the pry bar method for breaking the window. Another use for the small pry bar that we all carry around! Hurray for this simple, versatile tool!

PS. I didn't know about electric cars in the early 20th century. Holy cow! How did we miss that technology??? I prefer quiet cars with less pollution.

I doubt that headrests were intentionally made to be window smashers. However, it might be worth a try to use one of the metal prongs for that task. It would be unwieldy, but it might work. A sharp impact strike in a small area will easily break out a car side window (nor the windshield though).

In all my years as a paramedic, I never saw glass broken out by a head rest. By heads, yes, but head rests, no.

Wouldn't work in my car. Might in my wife's. Both cars have rescue knives with carbide glass breakers secured low on the driver's door.