Power windows and little fingers

by Roger Sinasohn (Subscribe to Roger Sinasohn's posts) Dec 30th 2006 5:01PM

Categories: Places To Go, Health & Safety, Baby Essentials

I remember it distinctly... it was during the Vintage Computer Festival in 2005. Jared, Uncle Hans, and I had been sent off to Fry's electronics for some cable or doohickey that was needed for one of the speakers. It was a hot day, so we had the windows rolled down. As we got on the freeway, I rolled them up from the driver's seat, only to hear yelps of pain from the back. I looked back and saw Jared with his fingers caught in the closed window.

I rolled it down immediately and pulled over to make sure he was okay. A few kisses and he was all right again. Still, it scared the dickens out of me -- and him too, probably. Now I always check for fingers and make sure he knows I'm going to roll up the windows before I do it. We both learned our lesson.

According to Ask Patty, however, there are folks who don't want kids to have to learn that lesson. She points to an article about a proposed mandate to prevent power windows from closing if there is an obstruction, such as fingers. Opponents claim it's a safety issue -- such a feature would prevent someone from closing a window to keep out a carjacker or other intruder.

I think I have to go with Patty on this -- I'd rather be responsible for my kids then have another gadget that will break added to the cost of the car.

Thanks to Joel for the tip!

Source

Comments (8)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jenny 12-30-2006 @ 5:38PM

The issue here is not fingers in windows, it is necks.
Read some of the stories on the link; they are about kids who caught their heads in power windows. I'm old enough to remember windows that you rolled up, and if you took your hand off the roller it stopped rolling. It would be nice if the power window stopped rolling when you took your hand off it too, but it doesn't and that's a "feature." It's too easy for a kid to start a window moving and it keeps moving even if no one is touching the controls. I don't think that is a good thing.

Cassie 12-30-2006 @ 8:47PM

I have never seen a power window that didn't stop going up when you stopped pushing it in.

However, I agree with the windows stopping if something is in the way; it'd be a great feature. There could always be some kind of switch to turn that feature on and off, like there is on garage doors.

Jessica 12-30-2006 @ 11:05PM

I've got the window that doesn't stop rolling up when you let go - it's supposed to be a convenience thing. Fortunately, it only works on the driver's window in my car, but I wonder if it's on other windows in other cars as well...

I remember a little girl I used to nanny for (this was before I met the family) whose neck was stuck in the window when her knee was on the button - she was fine later, but had some fairly serious damage to her neck - even after that, her parents allowed her little brother to play in the car, semi-unsupervised, at age 1 1/2 - he burned his thumb in the adaptor/lighter... right down to the bone.

L. 12-31-2006 @ 4:18AM

A vintage computer fan is actually fretting about the cost of "another gadget?"

Heh.

LS 12-31-2006 @ 3:49PM

Not to be persnickety, but what are kids necks doing sticking out the windows? Aren't they supposed to be buckled up when they're in the cars?

I'll stick with the way things are, thanks. My truck has a window lock on it already, which keeps passengers from being able open/close their windows (ALL passengers, which makes me crazy when it's on and my husband is driving).

Ginny 12-31-2006 @ 4:10PM

I will never forget the first time I heard about a child choking himself to death on power windows. I had closed my finger up in one before and I know how painful it is and easy to do. I knew to let go of the button and roll it back down, but I imagine a child would only think to let go of the button, but though the pain of the window closed on his neck would panic and not think to open it until it was too late. I hope all cars come equipped with this device one day soon. I would feel much better if my car had it.

clarity 12-31-2006 @ 4:40PM

one problem is the rocker buttons, where pushing one end or the other for up and down - so a child leaning on it acitivates it. Many car manufacturers have been pressured to move to other types of switches - the kind where you pull for up and push for down. Much less dangerous. There's a rule coming in 2008 that regulates this.

http://www.consumerreports.org:80/cro/cars/childsafe-power-windows-405-child-safety-car-safety-car-windows/index.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=power%20windows

george 1-08-2007 @ 1:05PM

There are a variety of ways that kids can be in a car with windows operating and without an adult, not the least frequent of which is the "one minute" stop to run in and get ___.

Our four year old operates the window and can get out of his car seat (our Subaru - like most Japanese autos - has safety latches that only work when lifted up - to their shame, US car manufacturers continue to offer the kind that can be activated by a kid kneeling or pressing down on the window switch).

While it might not ensure no child will ever get strangled by a window, it makes the odds much better.

And if you're concerned about the cost, add up the cost of the cosmetic style changes that manufacturers make each model year and compare that to the cost of safety changes.

For those who believe the free market should trump safety concerns, I'd agree as long as manufacturers had the option of making the changes or, if they decline, posting a large unremovable sticker on the dashboard that says "this car can strangle your kid"

George

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