# how many died?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-died/26962
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 26, 2000, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-died/26962 "2000-07-26T20:55:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2000, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-died/26962/1 "2000-07-26T20:55:59Z")
so my car has power locks and windows. it’s a van (chevy i think). when locked, the lock buttons (there’s GOTTA be a more technical term than that) for the front seats are flush with the door panel. fortunately, the lock mechanism lock/unlockers are easily grasped for the side doors. but if they weren’t, and the power went out in the car and the windows were up and the doors were locked, I’d be stuck!
when they first introduced these features (power locks) how many people died before they realized this deathtrap attribute? I’m guessing zero, but would like some doper input.
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### Author:  [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2000, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-died/26962/2 "2000-07-26T21:07:05Z")
The handles you grab to actually open the doors override the locks. Several people have died (no cite, but a statistical certainty), when they forgot how to use the handles in an emergency.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2000, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-died/26962/3 "2000-07-26T21:10:51Z")
There’s a gizmo you can buy that will break your window for you. Usually it’s meant for cars with power windows that endup underwater (where you can’t open the door). The item costs a few bucks at any car stuff store (like Pep Boys). Of course, you could just keep a hammer under the seat to do the same trick.
Personally though I’d follow JB’s advice and try the door handles first…
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2000, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-died/26962/4 "2000-07-26T21:12:34Z")
Make that TC Burnett’s advice.
Sorry…
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### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-died/26962/5 "2000-07-26T21:15:07Z")
> [@](#):
>
> you could just keep a hammer under the seat to do the same trick.
No way, Jack–too damn uncomfortable.😃
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-died/26962/6 "2000-07-26T21:18:51Z")
> [@](#):
>
> No way, Jack–too damn uncomfortable.
Exactly how would you store a hammer under a seat? Straight up and down? 😉 If so then I take your meaning…
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### Author:  [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2000, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-died/26962/7 "2000-07-26T21:22:19Z")
I think that Mjollnir meant that he did not want anyone to store him under their car seat.
Mjollnir is the hammer of Thor.
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### Author:  [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2000, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-died/26962/8 "2000-07-26T21:25:56Z")
Check out my new sig.
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### Author:  [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2000, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-died/26962/9 "2000-07-26T21:27:03Z")
Here we go again.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2000, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-died/26962/10 "2000-07-26T21:39:10Z")
I shoulda caught that too. The first time I saw Mjollnir was on this board I thought he was one of my brothers who lives in LA. My brother’s e-mail address is MJOLLNIR@\.COM. Needless to say he’s let me know on several occasions what Mjollnir is…
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### Author:  [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2000, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-died/26962/11 "2000-07-26T22:21:19Z")
Car windows are extremely difficult to break with hammers or blunt objects. If you want to break one quickly use a spring loaded automatic center punch.