Anyone who operates a motorized vehicle should recognize there’s always a chance the machine could crash.

The worst automobile accidents result in death, although statistics on car collisions indicate that when a vehicle mishap does happen, most passengers survive the initial impact, thanks in part to an array of safety equipment aboard modern vehicles.

In some instances, however, riders who survive the actual crash only find themselves trapped inside a mangled vehicle and facing a secondary threat — a car on fire, perhaps, or one submerging in water.

The best way to protect yourself from trauma in a moving vehicle is to be ever alert and drive as safely as possible — but to always prepare for an emergency.

To escape entrapment in a car, one simple but invaluable tool could save your life: the Life Hammer.

Think of this as a specialized mallet that, should you become trapped, you can use to break out a window or saw through restrictions like a locked seat belt strap in order to free yourself.

Butt ends cap in conical steel points. When directed at glass, these tips will shatter a car window with one hit.

The sharp spikes will also puncture the impediment of an inflated air bag, if necessary. And a shielded razor-sharp blade cuts webbing of a safety belt if it fails to release.

The Life Hammer comes in neon orange with luminescent markings. Find it in the Herrington catalog as item #M235 for $19.95. Call 866-558-7467 or visit www.herringtoncatalog.com to order.