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It turns out to be much more difficult to do without a gun, especially if the window is underwater.

True, but an alternative is an "automatic center punch" available at most hardware/tool supply stores for $5 to $7. It is a hardened steel punch with a spring loaded hammer in a compact cylindrical assembly, not much larger then a fountain pen. To use, place the point against the glass and continue to depress the body of the tool, cocking the hammer against the spring until the hammer is released by a sear mechanism, driving the punch forward. The resultant blow will shatter tempered safety glass without having to worry about where a bullet is going to wind up. I'd recommend keeping an automatic punch in the center console of every car you own.

There are also "rescue hammers" for sale at auto parts stores. These tools are actually a hammer with a pointed striking surface, the handle contains a knife blade shielded by a deep hook shaped slot in the handle. The shielded blade is much safer then a standard knife for cutting seat belts when the adrenaline is pumping (you hook the slot over the belt and pull) but the hammer is not as effective as the center punch in shattering the side window glass first time, every time. I believe that specialty knives with the blade shielding slot are available (EMT knife??) but you'd have to look a bit to find them.

Regards,
GtG

From the comments at the link:

“As a volunteer firefighter I’ve broken many a car window and can tell you that they are much stronger than they look. We’ve had our automatic punch fail sometimes because we didn’t hit the window in the sweet spot. I honestly don’t think there is any way his knife could have done the job, especially with the windows submerged.”

I have a couple of automatic center punches. Perhaps I will put them in my vehicles, maybe tethered so that you could be sure to find them.

Big 5 Sporting has weekend sales that usually include some nice Smith & Wesson knives. I scored a nice "rescue" knife with the window breaker on one end, seat belt cutter (slotted, protected razor edge) and a fold out blade. Standard price is $69.99. Weekend sale price was $15.99. It travels in my backpack on my motorcycle. Too big for my pocket for daily carry. Another one lives in my center console on my F150 for the obvious purpose of getting out if necessary.

There are some jurisdictions that will assume your possession of the automatic center punch is for purpose of vandalizing windshields. I don't carry one for that reason. There is no way to know whether you are in that kind of a jackass jurisdiction until it is too late. A bit like carrying a firearm in New York.