Dear Tom and Ray:

Some time ago, you guys published a letter about a little old lady who was fearful that her car's electric windows wouldn't work if the car plunged into a river. In your inimitable way, you made her look like an excessive worrier, because, you said, the windows would operate under water, at least for a short time. What you failed to point out is that electric windows may fail to work whenever the battery has been dislodged in an accident, and that opening the windows may be critical if the doors can't be opened, for example if jammed in the crash, or if the car is on its side. I remembered your column when I found, in a European auto supply store, a product called a "Life Hammer." It's a small hammer with a sharp point to break auto glass easily. So, I think you should tell your readers who are concerned about safety that they should not only wear their seatbelts, they should also have, within the driver's reach: 1. A fire extinguisher, 2. A flashlight, and 3. A hammer with a sharp point, all firmly affixed to the car, but easily removed. Don

Ray: My brother has all that safety gear in his car, Don. But he hasn't quite caught on to the concept yet. He keeps it in the trunk.

It's amazing how many bad driving habits and wacko theories have been passed down from generation to generation! Tom and Ray set the record straight in their booklet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1995 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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