Here's Why You Should Lock Your Doors While Driving

Atlantis50

I tend to press the central locking button as soon as I sit into the car before setting off on a journey.

I've never been comfortable with the idea that anyone could just randomly walk up to the car and open my doors and do whatever while I happen to be sitting in traffic.

Two court report articles in the Irish Examiner today and yesterday show why:

In the case linked below, a man 'with a propensity for violence' just sat into the passenger seat of some random guys car as the driver was waiting in traffic and hijacked it:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/man-with-propensity-for-violence-jailed-after-attack-342556.html

In yesterday's court report, a jealous man attacked his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend while the couple were sitting in his car in Cork city. Presumably, the door was unlocked (no mention of breaking glass) as the driver was kicked, punched and had his keys taken and thrown in the River Lee:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/man-assaulted-exs-partner-with-keys-as-he-sat-in-car-342343.html

Do you lock your doors while driving?

Foxhole Norman

I do, only because the yoke gets in the way of my arm :pac:

mailforkev

My car does it automatically as you move off so yes, the car is always locked.

I certainly wouldn't drive around an urban area or city centre with my car unlocked. Windows stay up too.

No point helping out a kindly scobe who wants to rob your stuff.

Chris_Heilong

Mine has automatic locks also, as soon as I turn the engine on or drive above 10km/h.

Atlantic Dawn

Not possible to drink 16 cans in an hour, why do the judges let this rubbish go untested...

The court heard that Martin, who was raised by his grandmother, drank 16 cans of beer in one hour before he jumped into the passenger seat of Noel Comer’s vehicle while it was stopped at traffic lights.

biko

I don't lock my doors. I estimate my chances of being hijacked less than the chances of someone needing to get inside because I was hit and am unconscious indie the car.

NaNaNa1

Was out for dinner with my friends a few weeks back and some madman tried to get in the back of my car as we were coming out of the carpark. He stood at the front of the car and was banging on the hood like mad and then went to get into the back. At the time the central locking was dodgy and we couldn't do anything but rev and zoom off (as quick as a Micra can) don't think I was ever as quick to bring the car to a garage to have the locks looked at. Scary stuff.

MrWalsh

Yeah, I had a drunk muppet try to get into the car on the Quays after leaving the Temple Bar carpark one night, but I always locked them anyway.

I also leave enough space in front of me in stopped traffic such that I could exit the traffic queue and drive up onto the pavement or across the other side of the road if I had to in the (admittedly unlikely) event of some lunatic attacking the car.

CreepingDeath

biko wrote: »

I don't lock my doors. I estimate my chances of being hijacked less than the chances of someone needing to get inside because I was hit and am unconscious indie the car.

I do way up that possibility.
But if it's a serious enough incident that I'm unconscious, then it warrants someone to smash the window.

Anyone with kids will have child locks on usually.

I do remember seeing in a film a car that automatically unlocked the doors if it detected a collision. Not sure if that's standard behaviour or not, and tied in with airbag deployment.

imitation

Only at night really tbh, although a nutjob can strike at any time, not a fun prospect !

Sam Kade

NaNaNa1 wrote: »

Was out for dinner with my friends a few weeks back and some madman tried to get in the back of my car as we were coming out of the carpark. He stood at the front of the car and was banging on the hood like mad and then went to get into the back. At the time the central locking was dodgy and we couldn't do anything but rev and zoom off (as quick as a Micra can) don't think I was ever as quick to bring the car to a garage to have the locks looked at. Scary stuff.

Only in America :rolleyes:

biko

CreepingDeath wrote: »

I do remember seeing in a film a car that automatically unlocked the doors if it detected a collision. Not sure if that's standard behaviour or not, and tied in with airbag deployment.

Some BMWs has this function, not sure what triggers the unlock.

BMJD

mine automatically unlock when I put it in Park, which is very annoying and potentially dangerous

Asmooh

nobody even tries to get into my car, but im a scrary looking person that looks like i will kill you the first thing when you even come close :P

Special Circumstances

Got auto locking enabled on her car.
I do sometimes lock my own if I'm in a dodgy part of limerick but I think scummers prefer easy targets. And what can you do to dissuade genuine mental cases in the very unlikely chance they take a shine to your car?

endacl

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

Mine has automatic locks also, as soon as I turn the engine on or drive above 10km/h.

How do you do the second if you haven't done the first?!?

YbFocus

Asmooh wrote: »

nobody even tries to get into my car, but im a scrary looking person that looks like i will kill you the first thing when you even come close :P

I doubt it in an mx5, Connor McGregor wouldn't look scary in an mx5

slimjimmc

endacl wrote: »

How do you do the second if you haven't done the first?!?

Freewheel downhill!
I think he means you can start the engine and the doors will automatically lock. However if you unlock the doors while the engine is running then the doors will automatically lock when you get up to 10km/h.

seamus

Hijackings and random assaults on private drivers are extraordinarily rare. That's not a good reason for locking your doors. It's overcautiousness bordering on paranoia. There was a short spate of hijackings last year, but that was most likely a single gang who thought it was a good way to get some easy cash, and then realised it's not.

However people walking up and removing stuff from passenger seats (women's bags in particular), is relatively common, and is a good reason for locking your doors.

Other drivers with reasons to be targets are taxi drivers and delivery drivers whose vehicles will contain valuables would also be advised to lock their doors.

Interslice

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

Mine has automatic locks also, as soon as I turn the engine on or drive above 10km/h.

Always think this must make for some slightly awkward moments with hitch hikers.

Wright

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Not possible to drink 16 cans in an hour, why do the judges let this rubbish go untested...

Skull it

Pov06

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

I do, only because the yoke gets in the way of my arm :pac:

Same here :pac:

Sobanek

I always lock my doors as I had a junkie get into my car once. Not a pleasant experience to say the least.

Raminahobbin

80% of the time I do. I sometimes forget. And if I have my windows down, it's only by a small amount, not enough for a hand- had an encounter at a traffic lights a few years ago.

I had my driver window down about half way, and some IDIOT came out of nowhere and thrust his hand into the car at me to try sell me one of those car air-fresheners. He gave me such a fright...but he also gave my dog a fright, who was sitting on the back seat obscured from his vision by tinted windows :pac:

She went ballistic, it sounded like a I had a fecking monster on the seat behind me yer man fell backwards on his arse with the shock of the demonic eruption, lights changed and I headed off.

Pretty sure he learned his lesson about sticking his hand into cars, and I learned my lesson about keeping the window open at a safe level.

Del2005

biko wrote: »

I don't lock my doors. I estimate my chances of being hijacked less than the chances of someone needing to get inside because I was hit and am unconscious indie the car.

If your unconscious in a car you shouldn't be removed unless the vehicle is at risk of fire/further damage or the emergency services take you out, on a back board, you've no idea what type of internal injuries could be made worst by moving someone involved in an RTI.

endacl

Del2005 wrote: »

If your unconscious in a car you shouldn't be removed unless the vehicle is at risk of fire/further damage or the emergency services take you out, on a back board, you've no idea what type of internal injuries could be made worst by moving someone involved in an RTI.

And the services that would need to get to you wouldn't have any problem getting to you. A little thing like a locked door wouldn't slow them down.

Voodoomelon

I programmed my car to lock automatically upon taking off, turned it off after a few days. Headwrecking.
The negatives far outweigh the benefits, at least in my area.

dancingchicken

Atlantis50 wrote:

the driver was kicked, punched and had his keys taken and thrown in the River Lee:

If someone throws my keys in a river he'll be going in after them!
I never lock my car when I'm in it. I'd be much more worried about having an accident and not being able to get out of the car than someone opening the door.

SuperS54

I always lock the doors when driving, the potential benefits far outweigh the risks. In any accident that leaves me unable to unlock the door the door will likely already be open or jammed shut so the lock is of no consequence.

Had some looney road rager try to open my door a couple of years ago, followed me off the motorway and pounced when I was stopped at traffic lights, to this day I'm 100% convinced he got the wrong car or was just crackers as I'd not had any interaction with his vehicle. Very glad the door was locked though as it didn't look like he would be able to see reason through the froth. Had a drunken idiot jump on the back of a mates motorbike when stopped in traffic, bike fell over and idiot ran off, few hundred euro in damage.

keithclancy

Had a woman jump in the passenger seat of my car on Patricks street in Cork and tell me to take her to the train station.

Also had some loolas trying to open peoples door randomly in Cork a few times, apparently this is some new door opening phenomenon.

In Dublin you'd have some fella saying ... AH HAYORE BUD ... ANY COINS.

Driving to Calais you had all sorts.

Point being when in the car you have limited mobility to do anything so stopping someone doing something is much more difficult, especially if they get in the back seats.

Nah ... I'll keep my doors locked.

Special Circumstances

keithclancy wrote: »

Had a woman jump in the passenger seat of my car on Patricks street in Cork and tell me to take her to the train station.

Also had some loolas trying to open peoples door randomly in Cork a few times, apparently this is some new door opening phenomenon.

Had a Mazda 626 years ago, seemed to be a magnet for drunk wans trying to get into it at traffic lights around club finishing up time in Cork. I suppose an Avensis would have had the same drunk-wan-magnet effect. A bit worrying actually that they would hop into anything that vaguely looked like a taxi on their own...

MrWalsh

A brazzer jumped into the passenger seat of the car of a friend of mine as he pulled up outside where he was staying (near the pepper canister) many moons ago. "Go go go, quick" she says. He just looked at her and said "well I dunno where youre going luv, but Im going home", indicating the house he was going into. Cue sheepish look on the face of the brazzer, "you mean you didnt pull over to pick me up?", "eh, no, sorry luv". She slunk back off into the night.

power pants

.

Atlantis50

Another story in the Examiner today...

A woman who was about to drive away from a filling station at night was dragged from her car and knocked to the ground where she hit her head, it was alleged at Cork District Court.

[...]

Garda Hayes said it was alleged that a woman was sitting in her Nissan Qashqai at around 11.30pm when a man pulled her from her vehicle.

“An incident occurred from that in which she was knocked to the ground and banged her head off the tiles on the ground. She was assisted by two witnesses. There is very strong evidence,” Garda Hayes alleged.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/woman-dragged-from-car-in-robbery-342772.html

MetzgerMeister

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Not possible to drink 16 cans in an hour

biko wrote: »

Some BMWs has this function, not sure what triggers the unlock.

It's usually removal of the "key" fob from it's slot that triggers the unlock in E9*, E6* era BMWs. Not sure about the older ones.

keithclancy

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Not possible to drink 16 cans in an hour, why do the judges let this rubbish go untested...

You're assuming the cans are 500ml :P

neasyerac

Living in the country side, I've more a chance of a cow jumping in the back seats then some mad lad with 16 cans in him.

Del2005

neasyerac wrote: »

Living in the country side, I've more a chance of a cow jumping in the back seats then some mad lad with 16 cans in him.

Had a similar conversation with my Uncles when down at my Grandparents house. I was in and out to the car a load of times in a few minutes and put the alarm on every time I walked away. They said why keep locking the car when there is no one around for miles, they left the keys in their cars 24/7, my answer was I'd rather lock the car in the middle of nowhere than forget in a place where it's needed.

johndaman66

I'm guessing its most likely shocking the amount of women who most likely drive about with the doors unlocked and the handbag for all and sundry to see. Feb last year was going to work and there was a Corolla in front of me at a roundabout. Early morning around 7:30 so still wasn't fully clued in yet. There was what I guessed from the build to be an adolescent (couldn't tell for sure as only saw the side of him and he was wearing a hoodie) sniffing around the Corolla. next thing he made a bolt for the unlocked passenger door and grabbed the handbag. Sole lady occupier made an attempt to grab the bag but no good.


I was 50/50 on whether I'd be a have a go hero and run after him but in retrospect was probably a good idea not to. I'd soon fall a clatter with my work shoes on the icy road and wouldn't be a great idea to leave my car sitting there on the road. He'd probably have the legs on me and possibly a knife on me if I did catch up. I think people possibly underestimate how often this sort of thing happens in some parts.

johndaman66

Del2005 wrote: »

They said why keep locking the car when there is no one around for miles, they left the keys in their cars 24/7,

Thats just downright silly. Whatever about leaving a car unlocked which is in itself silly enough leaving the keys in it 24/7 is stupidity of the highest order that will cost dearly eventually irrespective of how quiet or issolated the area is

Del2005

johndaman66 wrote: »

Thats just downright silly. Whatever about leaving a car unlocked which is in itself silly enough leaving the keys in it 24/7 is stupidity of the highest order that will cost dearly eventually irrespective of how quiet or issolated the area is

They still do and it's been years.

9935452

biko wrote: »

I don't lock my doors. I estimate my chances of being hijacked less than the chances of someone needing to get inside because I was hit and am unconscious indie the car.

If the airbags go off the central locking opens.
Regardless the car automatically locks itself above 15k. I like it cause it also locks the boot. if you are stopped in traffic it wouldnt take much for someone to open the boot and help themselves. ive heard of it happening

TwoShedsJackson

Del2005 wrote: »

They still do and it's been years.

Just because it's never been stolen, it doesn't follow that it never will be. Still, as long as they don't mind the insurance company telling them to bugger off if they try to claim for it if someone does steal it, it's up to them.

Cerco

biko wrote: »

Some BMWs has this function, not sure what triggers the unlock.

LINK

johndaman66

Del2005 wrote: »

They still do and it's been years.

Seriously there is no part of Ireland that remote or issolated in this day and age that you will never find an opportunistic visitor there. To do that in this day in age is in my opinion stupidity of the highest order whatever way one would try to justify it.


My cousin used to drive an ould banger of a car and used to leave the keys in the ignition going into shops and filling stations. I used to say to him he was mad. Whatever about leaving it open which was bad enough but to leave the keys in the ignition was just crazy. He'd reply yerrah John who'd carry it and if they did then they'd be doing me a favour. Or at least that was his response until the day it was carried....quite a different sort of response he had then I tell you...

Summer wind

My car locks automatically as I drive away. I always make sure my doors are locked, nowadays you can't be too careful. When I'm with my husband in his car I always make him lock the doors too even though he laughs at me.

Sh1tbag OToole

johndaman66 wrote: »

Thats just downright silly. Whatever about leaving a car unlocked which is in itself silly enough leaving the keys in it 24/7 is stupidity of the highest order that will cost dearly eventually irrespective of how quiet or issolated the area is

I leave them in as well. Be grand sure, I actually have 3 cars sitting around with the keys in them. I'd be forever losing the fecking things otherwise.

For many years we had a Peugeot 305 and the tumbler was fecked so the uncle put in a pushbutton start using a spare switch and knob out of a plastic tray, then he had to show some NCT boy how to use it

Also the 16-cans lad has a better temperament around here and I give him lifts the odd time.

Couple of weeks ago I was crossing the road in a small village, this ould banger with a young girlie inside pulls up at the junction and I hear the click click of her doors locking. I must look fair dodge

Special Circumstances

Haha wasn't a peugot was it? Had a peugeot rental one time I swear the central locking used explosive bolts for decoupling thrusters from spacecraft or something.

johndaman66

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

I leave them in as well. Be grand sure, I actually have 3 cars sitting around with the keys in them. I'd be forever losing the fecking things otherwise.

For many years we had a Peugeot 305 and the tumbler was fecked so the uncle put in a pushbutton start using a spare switch and knob out of a plastic tray, then he had to show some NCT boy how to use it

Also the 16-cans lad has a better temperament around here and I give him lifts the odd time.

Couple of weeks ago I was crossing the road in a small village, this ould banger with a young girlie inside pulls up at the junction and I hear the click click of her doors locking. I must look fair dodge

Haha I laughed at that post Sh1tbag. To an extent I do admire your naivety in leaving the keys in the cars (but on the other hand I think you are just being a bit silly really).


Your story of the young girls locking the doors on their car reminds me of an incident I had about 4/5 years back. Went to town for a few drinks with a friend. It was a Friday and I was tired after the weeks work so i decided to stay desiginated dessie and drive home besides the hassle of trying to find a taxi after. Got out of pub and sat into car with friend. He said John a few scoobies coming, lock your doors so instintively I hit the central locking. Unfortunately they heard it and didn't take too kindly to it. They came over and one of them quickly remarked a somewhat prominent feature I had. Probably would have walked on by otherwise.

Sh1tbag OToole

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Haha wasn't a peugot was it? Had a peugeot rental one time I swear the central locking used explosive bolts for decoupling thrusters from spacecraft or something.

I think it was a Renault. Definitely not a Peugeot.

Supergurrier

Asmooh wrote: »

nobody even tries to get into my car, but im a scrary looking person that looks like i will kill you the first thing when you even come close :P

Nope thats me