Watch Your Fingers!

Anyone who has slammed their fingers in doors (especially car doors) knows how painful it can be to squish those digits between heavy objects. Finger crunching is obviously a concern of parents with cars, whether it’s in doors or in automatic windows. According to the Detroit Free Press, there has been a recent push by parents and safety advocates to create a bill in Congress mandating power windows that will not close if something obstructs it. Like fingers.

The argument against it is surprisingly simple: in most cases it wouldn’t save lives and it can actually be used against you. For example, you are sitting at a light and someone tries to carjack your car. You quickly hit the power windows to protect yourself and the intruder sticks his hand in the way. Oops. Your window won’t roll up now.

Children’s fingers are important and we should definitely protect them from being crunched in windows and doors, but maybe the best way is by prevention. Make sure your littlest ones aren’t close enough to reach them, and explain the dangers to the older ones. And remember, a lot of vehicles have window locks for a reason.

Comments

[mandy]

I know what its like to lose a finger as my brother chopped my marriage finger off when I was 6 years old.He says he has saved me a lot on nail polish and only having to pay for nine nail extensions instead of ten over the years! I would prefer to have my finger back.

[Gilbert Bow]

Interesting how everyone believes the lame excuses for not adding this safety feature. There is absolutely no basis for what is being reported.

Power doors on minivans automatically reverse if something or someone gets in the way.

Power hatch backs automatically reverse if something or someone gets in the way.

Why not power windows?

The excuse about someone 'getting at you' is smoke and mirrors used by the auto industry. These are the same guys that HAVE the auto reverse feature on their higher end models. (and have had that feature for years) Have you heard of anyone getting hurt due to power windows automatically reversing? It's outlandish.
1. If you’re in a dangerous area; are you going to be driving with your windows down? 2. Most people have air conditioning in their cars and never drive with the windows down. 3. If a criminal want to get at you, they can simply shoot a bullet thru the glass.

If you follow the logic they are proposing; then let's not put door locks on cars. People can still break into your car!!

Please know that many people (particularly children) are hurt by these guillotines on wheels.

Heated and chilled cup holders; or safer power windows.......come on.

[Joel A]

Well, this post brought back nightmares. I'm missing part of the tip of one of my fingers due to a parent (I won't name her) not seeing the digit when she closed the door.