Know how to get out!

**MtnBiker** · 06-11-2015

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...rvette-n373316

**The_Greg** · 06-11-2015

Tragic. I'm younger and healthy... I don't know what my first attempt would be to try and get out. The side glass is probably stronger than we all think, and you have limited motion in these cars. I don't normally carry anything sharp or weighted in the car, just insurance papers and cell phone chargers.

On the Gen III, doesn't the normal door handle eventually engage a mechanical release? So if power goes out, just pull harder on the handle and you're out?

**commandomatt** · 06-11-2015

Why didn't the people that were on the outside trying to help, break the glass ? (these people were mentioned in another article on MSN http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/tex...9FK?li=BBgzzfc )

Sure, this is last resort but the driver would probably rather be alive and deal with a broken glass as opposed to dead.

Really sad and goes to show that we need to be careful how much faith we put into electronics in these new cars

**viper_eddie** · 06-11-2015

That's quite a shame...I don't know if it's possible to break the glass from inside with just your arms. Maybe with your legs if you kick hard enough?

Pretty tragic and something that could have been easily avoided. I know my Gen 2 had a manual door release at the back but I don't remember how my Gen 4 was lol. Is the Corvette's really that hidden away?

**XSnake** · 06-11-2015

Very sad

**MtnBiker** · 06-11-2015

Originally Posted by viper_eddie

That's quite a shame...I don't know if it's possible to break the glass from inside with just your arms. Maybe with your legs if you kick hard enough?

Pretty tragic and something that could have been easily avoided. I know my Gen 2 had a manual door release at the back but I don't remember how my Gen 4 was lol. Is the Corvette's really that hidden away?

I don't think you can break the glass with any body part. I have glass breaking tools in all my cars. The Vette has a small strap at the bottom of the door. It's not hard to see or access. Just pull it.

**Slithr** · 06-11-2015

$15.00 can save your life! Living here on the Texas Gulf Coast where flash flooding can happen quick, my wife and I have a center punch in every glove box.

Available at The Home Depot:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/General-T...h-89/202025674

e14a5b46-3f2b-406f-a588-cc9fe700b3cc_400_zpsjvl23hkt.jpg

**ViperSmith** · 06-11-2015

Just bought punches for my car and wifes, safe vs sorry.

**The_Greg** · 06-12-2015

Originally Posted by Slithr

$15.00 can save your life! Living here on the Texas Gulf Coast where flash flooding can happen quick, my wife and I have a center punch in every glove box.

Available at The Home Depot:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/General-T...h-89/202025674

e14a5b46-3f2b-406f-a588-cc9fe700b3cc_400_zpsjvl23hkt.jpg

Since I would like to keep pocket tools in my cars, I was thinking of getting this Kershaw glass breaker knife. $63 though.
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1670GB.../dp/B00TI4QFN0

**Dusty1** · 06-12-2015

So Alan, do you keep a hammer in the glove box or can you just swing the punch in your hand and break the glass?

Richard

**Slithr** · 06-12-2015

Originally Posted by Dusty1

So Alan, do you keep a hammer in the glove box or can you just swing the punch in your hand and break the glass?

Richard

No hammer needed, it's spring loaded. Just push and the punch pops shattering the glass.

I had heard of this several years back during tropical storm Allison and have since carried one in every car, as cheap insurance the size of a pen. This thread made me think of it, just wished this gentleman would've had one!

**v10enomous** · 06-12-2015

Went over this with some Corvette guys last night at a cruise. There's a lever right next to the seat to manually release the door.

**Slithr** · 06-12-2015

Originally Posted by v10enomous

Went over this with some Corvette guys last night at a cruise. There's a lever right next to the seat to manually release the door.

Thanks for posting and telling your friends, I wasn't aware Corvettes had that. If I ever got a Corvette it's probably be a 1969, not sure it had a lever then, probably have to go old school again.

**The_Greg** · 06-12-2015

Originally Posted by Slithr

Thanks for posting and telling your friends, I wasn't aware Corvettes had that. If I ever got a Corvette it's probably be a 1969, not sure it had a lever then, probably have to go old school again.

In which case, the electronics only impact the starter, lights, and radio. K.I.S.S. If you have a hill and gasoline, you've got a fully operational car without a battery.

**AZTVR** · 06-12-2015

Knowing the variety of pills that can be inflicted on an "old guy" and the range of side effects, I wouldn't be surprised that he was overcome much sooner than he expected. There was mention in one report that he may have had the owner's manual out. I know that us older guys tend to mentally think of ourselves as we were 20-30 years prior and are repeatedly pissed off by the performance of our current physical systems.

**Vprbite** · 06-13-2015

So sad. All of this electronic stiff is cool but there are some things where I want a cable.

The new fords parking brake (no longer called an emergency brake) is electronic so if you are driving at 50 mph and press the button, it won't engage. For your safety. But what if you are at soeed because the brakes are out? I lost brakes once. I was barely 17 and lost all brake pressure and luckily was able to use the e brake to slow myself down and get into a parking lot. So sad here. My prayers go out to his family,

**Garron** · 06-13-2015

Gen 3,4 and 5 have a cable from the inside handle to the latch on both front doors on vipers. If the door does not open move the inside handle another 1/2 inch.

**Vprbite** · 06-13-2015

Garron, you mean if the latch dies or the battery is off line, just continue to pull the handle and it will engage a cable that manually releases it?

**Rand1993** · 06-14-2015

Originally Posted by viper_eddie

That's quite a shame...I don't know if it's possible to break the glass from inside with just your arms. Maybe with your legs if you kick hard enough?

Pretty tragic and something that could have been easily avoided. I know my Gen 2 had a manual door release at the back but I don't remember how my Gen 4 was lol. Is the Corvette's really that hidden away?

The C7 Vette release is easy to reach when seated in the car, but you cannot see it when seated. You have to know where it is located. You could get in and out hundreds of times and not notice it.