Is a seat belt cutter a double-edged sword?

The blade of a seat belt cutter, as the name suggests, allows an individual to easily sever a thick seat belt. This can allow occupants to free themselves from their bad position during an emergency.

Inexpensive, one can find this potentially life-saving tool for less than 10$ at various hardware stores. This tool can be stored in the glove box or in an area the driver can easily reach. CAA-Quebec is not for or against drivers having these devices.

“It can be an important tool, but from what I’ve heard, it is sometimes a challenge to reach them following an accident,” noted Annie Gauthier, spokesperson for CAA-Quebec. “We are rather neutral on whether a vehicle owner should store a seat belt cutter in their vehicle, because it is important to remember that, following certain extreme accidents, it’s important not to move the victims if they injured their back, for example.”

Some cutters can also shatter car windows which can malfunction following a car accident, especially power windows.

As many readers are aware, an Aylmer father died following a car crash on boulevard des Allumettières this fall. His van flipped over, landing in a ditch filled with water. As his head was submerged in water,passersby and later emergency services tried to free him from his seat. They finally succeeded but, unfortunately, he later died of his injuries.