Getting locked in a car

WAW

I hope this is not a stupid question. But I would really like an answer! But I got locked in the car a couple of years ago. Basically husband accidentally locked the car, went into the house and I was in the car. So, I tested both the cars. Asked himself to use the key to lock the car while I was inside and I couldn't open any of the doors in either car. Is this normal? What am I missing? I assumed that you could always open the driver's door to get out. I asked the mechanic before and that's what I thought he said.

mikeecho

Completely normal

josip

WAW wrote: »

I hope this is not a stupid question. But I would really like an answer! But I got locked in the car a couple of years ago. Basically husband accidentally locked the car, went into the house and I was in the car. So, I tested both the cars. Asked himself to use the key to lock the car while I was inside and I couldn't open any of the doors in either car. Is this normal? What am I missing? I assumed that you could always open the driver's door to get out. I asked the mechanic before and that's what I thought he said.

In some models you have to pull the door handle twice in quick succession to get out from the inside.
Which was a problem for us the time our 2 year old got locked inside our car and although he was able to pull the handle once, he couldn't understand that he was supposed to do it twice, quickly.

colm_mcm

If your car has double locking then you’re not getting out that way.

WAW

I tried the pulling door handle twice quickly. I tried loads of stuff. I was locked in the car for 40 mins. I didn't panic obviously as I knew I would eventually get out. I find that extremely worrying. There surely has to be some safety mechanism to allow you to get out? There are loads of reasons people could get locked in a car.

route66

WAW wrote: »

I hope this is not a stupid question. But I would really like an answer! But I got locked in the car a couple of years ago. Basically husband accidentally locked the car, went into the house and I was in the car. So, I tested both the cars. Asked himself to use the key to lock the car while I was inside and I couldn't open any of the doors in either car. Is this normal? What am I missing? I assumed that you could always open the driver's door to get out. I asked the mechanic before and that's what I thought he said.

You're probably talking about deadlocks. Basically on many cars nowadays you can single-lock the car which allows you to open the door normally from the inside or you can double-lock them to engage the deadlocks. This is a security feature - if somebody breaks the glass, they can't reach in and open the door. They'd have to crawl into the car through the (broken) window.

antix80

I always assumed all cars could be opened but the mechanism might not be straight forward.
An elderly couple got locked in their car for ages, dehydrated and everything but didn't realise there was a manual override in a strange place.

colm_mcm

You’ll sometimes have a lever on the inside of the boot door, particularly if the model is offered in USA.

WAW

One of my cars is 13 years old. The other one is 7. Both the cars have standard remote central locking mechanism AFAIK. Definitely can't get out of either. I just find this really bizarre. As in how is this allowed from a safety point of view? Surely a person should be able to escape a car?!

punisher5112

Break glass hammer is a must in all cars for exactly this.....

listermint

Try the drivers side door in these situations often passenger doors are dead locked. Drivers rarely as it should have a manual override via handle open

WAW

listermint wrote: »

Try the drivers side door in these situations often passenger doors are dead locked. Drivers rarely as it should have a manual override via handle open

Nope. Assumed same as you that driver's would open. Spent 40 mins in the car. Tried everything but no opening the doors. Didn't try boot as the child seats were there and I knew that I would get out eventually.

Out of interest folks try it in your own cars.

Quackster

My car has a button near the gear-stick that unlocks the doors if they are double-locked. A car that can't be unlocked from the inside is a serious safety hazard IMO.

LaLa2004

punisher5112 wrote: »

Break glass hammer is a must in all cars for exactly this.....

I always meant to buy one after reading this awful story.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxnews.com/story/report-french-teen-suffocates-after-parents-lock-him-in-hot-car-overnight.amp

antix80

WAW wrote: »

Out of interest folks try it in your own cars.

Just be careful if you have an alarm.

I was in my car waiting on someone outside dunnes. For whatever reason i had headphones in, and i locked it using the key. The alarm was going off and I didn't notice.. Didnt even realise the car had an alarm.

route66

listermint wrote: »

Try the drivers side door in these situations often passenger doors are dead locked. Drivers rarely as it should have a manual override via handle open

If it's actually deadlocking there will not be an easy override facility. If there was, deadlocks would make no sense.

If you have the keys and you are unable to get out of the car, you should be able to get out by using the door-open button on the keys. If you are a passenger and have been locked in without the driver/keys then you need to get them to get you out. Assuming you don't want to break the window ...

It's also common for engaging double-locking to engage the alarm - another reason why somebody should never be double-locked into a car.

Thus stuff can vary in the detail from car to car and all the information you need will be in the owner's manual.

Del2005

Quackster wrote: »

My car has a button near the gear-stick that unlocks the doors if they are double-locked. A car that can't be unlocked from the inside is a serious safety hazard IMO.

It's only engaged by using the fob to lock the car what is the serious safety issue? You shouldn't be locking people in a car in the first place so them not being able to open the door is irrelevant.

zerosugarbuzz

Del2005 wrote: »

It's only engaged by using the fob to lock the car what is the serious safety issue? You shouldn't be locking people in a car in the first place so them not being able to open the door is irrelevant.

Could easily happen by accident. Thanks for the post OP, did not know this was a possibility.

colm_mcm

My car displays this message every time you turn the engine off



Basically Ass-covering to make sure the driver knows how double locking works.

freddieot

You won't have any 'hidden' override switch on any car with deadlocking. It is a security feature to help stop people stealing things from inside the car. I think some might allow you to modify the system, so as not to deadlock the doors, on some menu options, but that would depend on the model, usually higher spec.

There are risks involved in everything and you have to balance them. Few of us unplug our freezers, washing machines every night in case they go on fire. That is far more likely to happen then someone being roasted, drowning or dying in their car because they cannot get out through the doors.

If it helps, it's a bit easier to break side windows from inside the car and you can buy one of those small hammer things in Halfords or somewhere like that for not too much dosh, and keep it in the middle storage thing. They usually have a part for cutting through the seatbelt as well.

un5byh7sqpd2x0

Surely the simplest way to open the car is to blow the horn?

blackbox

Magnolia Puny Genie wrote: »

Surely the simplest way to open the car is to blow the horn?

On some cars the horn won't work unless the key is in the ignition.

Read the manual.

screamer

My car is the same will not open once locked from outside. It’s worrying, impossible escaping the car if something happened.

un5byh7sqpd2x0

blackbox wrote: »

On some cars the horn won't work unless the key is in the ignition.

Read the manual.

I will next time i find myself locked in a car. Thanks for that.

WAW

Del2005 wrote: »

It's only engaged by using the fob to lock the car what is the serious safety issue? You shouldn't be locking people in a car in the first place so them not being able to open the door is irrelevant.

Are you for real? Irrelevant? What kind of a response is that? Sure no one is deliberately locking people in cars! Point is that a person could sit on fob or child fiddling with key, that kind of thing. Also, you could get locked in car at your own house, your family member accidently lock you in and leave in the other car. People rushing about, busy mornings, busy households, older folks who like to stay in the car, etc. Loads of reasons.

Hurrache

colm_mcm wrote: »

My car displays this message every time you turn the engine off

It also tells you to not to forget your phone if it detected you had one with you, so when you lock your spouse in you'll take your phone with you and they can call you to give you an ear full.

Irishphotodesk

antix80 wrote: »

Just be careful if you have an alarm.

I was in my car waiting on someone outside dunnes. For whatever reason i had headphones in, and i locked it using the key. The alarm was going off and I didn't notice.. Didnt even realise the car had an alarm.

Have noticed quite a few people using headphones in a car recently (mostly they are driving !!!) ...is that a new thing ? - what's the point in putting on headphones while in a vehicle....especially while driving, if they are working they could stop the driver from recognising dangers.

As for the OP - my driver door opens the car from the inside. 15yr old corolla

josip

freddieot wrote: »

If it helps, it's a bit easier to break side windows from inside the car and you can buy one of those small hammer things in Halfords or somewhere like that for not too much dosh, and keep it in the middle storage thing. They usually have a part for cutting through the seatbelt as well.

If you didn't have the foresight to buy such a tool and find yourself in this situation, you may be able to use a detachable headrest to break the window.
(Although they're not specifically designed for that purpose)

Quackster

josip wrote: »

If you didn't have the foresight to buy such a tool and find yourself in this situation, you may be able to use a detachable headrest to break the window.
(Although they're not specifically designed for that purpose)

Would make more sense is all cars were like mine - a button somewhere on the dash that unlocks the doors from the inside in the event they have been double-locked. No need to go smashing windows to get out.

Sure it makes it a little easier for thieves to get in, but not that much easier

WAW

josip wrote: »

If you didn't have the foresight to buy such a tool and find yourself in this situation, you may be able to use a detachable headrest to break the window.
(Although they're not specifically designed for that purpose)

Actually I should have said that. I was told that as well. One of the reasons headrests are detachable is for that purpose.

WAW

blackbox wrote: »

On some cars the horn won't work unless the key is in the ignition.

Read the manual.

Mine don't.

_Kaiser_

Irishphotodesk wrote: »

Have noticed quite a few people using headphones in a car recently (mostly they are driving !!!) ...is that a new thing ? - what's the point in putting on headphones while in a vehicle....especially while driving, if they are working they could stop the driver from recognising dangers

It's happening a good while now (earplugs mostly) and like you I think it's madness.

cml387

I've done this, locked Mrs CML in the car while I've popped into the shop by instinctively locking the car as I walked away.
My Skoda has an unlock button by the gear lever. I would have assumed all cars with remote central locking have such a feature, I can't see the security implications if the button is inside a car that's already locked.

WAW

cml387 wrote: »

I've done this, locked Mrs CML in the car while I've popped into the shop by instinctively locking the car as I walked away.
My Skoda has an unlock button by the gear lever. I would have assumed all cars with remote central locking have such a feature, I can't see the security implications if the button is inside a car that's already locked.

Yes, exactly. The deadlock, etc is designed to stop people getting into the car. What reason could there be to prevent people from getting out of the car if they accidentally get locked in. Children aren't supposed to be locked in cars anyway while you pop to the shop.
I would have thought all cars with remote central locking should have the mechanism you describe.

colm_mcm

cml387 wrote: »

I've done this, locked Mrs CML in the car while I've popped into the shop by instinctively locking the car as I walked away.
My Skoda has an unlock button by the gear lever. I would have assumed all cars with remote central locking have such a feature, I can't see the security implications if the button is inside a car that's already locked.

The button doesn’t disable the double locking. Most Irish spec Skoda don’t have the double locking either way.

Hurrache

colm_mcm wrote: »

Most Irish spec Skoda don’t have the double locking either way.

The Safelock thing? Why's that?

It confused me a bit when I first saw it. A 2nd click of the key disables the deadlocking and allows it to be open from the inside. A previous car I had, first click it just locked, 2nd deadlocked.

Miscreant

My car (Toyota) has an unlock button on the inside that can be used as I have instinctively locked the car while walking away (while the missus was inside). This has only happened outside a shop and I have been back within 2 or 3 minutes.

I would be wondering how WAW's husband didn't miss her for the 40 minutes it took for her to get out of the car.....

colm_mcm

Hurrache wrote: »

The Safelock thing? Why's that?

It confused me a bit when I first saw it. A 2nd click of the key disables the deadlocking and allows it to be open from the inside. A previous car I had, first click it just locked, 2nd deadlocked.

Because penny pinching. Same with VW.
The uk ones usually have factory alarm too.

There was a spate of Irish spec Golfs getting broken into and the locking wheel it taken from the boot and the alloys nicked.
It’s a lot harder to do this to a car with an alarm and deadlocks.

colm_mcm

Miscreant wrote: »

My car (Toyota) has an unlock button on the inside that can be used as I have instinctively locked the car while walking away (while the missus was inside). This has only happened outside a shop and I have been back within 2 or 3 minutes.

I would be wondering how WAW's husband didn't miss her for the 40 minutes it took for her to get out of the car.....

That doesn’t work if double locking is set (on Toyotas you usually need to double click the lock button to set double locking)

Hurrache

colm_mcm wrote: »

Because penny pinching. Same with VW.
The uk ones usually have factory alarm too.

I thought it would just be a software thing as opposed to mechanical, hence no reason for omitting it from Irish cars.

UK cars always seem to come with a factory fit alarm alright, not just the VW family.

I do think they (VW/Skoda/Seat) charge extra for the Android Auto/Airplay to be unlocked in the UK though, are they unlocked as standard in Irish cars?

Quantum Erasure

route66 wrote: »

If it's actually deadlocking there will not be an easy override facility. If there was, deadlocks would make no sense.

If you have the keys and you are unable to get out of the car, you should be able to get out by using the door-open button on the keys. If you are a passenger and have been locked in without the driver/keys then you need to get them to get you out. Assuming you don't want to break the window ...

It's also common for engaging double-locking to engage the alarm - another reason why somebody should never be double-locked into a car.

Thus stuff can vary in the detail from car to car and all the information you need will be in the owner's manual.

..,which you'll have plenty of time to read.

CoBo55

colm_mcm wrote: »

My car displays this message every time you turn the engine off



Basically Ass-covering to make sure the driver knows how double locking works.

I think it's telling you there something wrong with the deadlock system. I've been driving skodas for years and I've never seen that message.

Hurrache

The feature is probably not in your car.

In fairness it has caused a bit of confusion over the years when people first see it, I thought there was a fault too first time I noticed it. But it's just a message telling you that the deadlocking system in operational.

colm_mcm

CoBo55 wrote: »

I think it's telling you there something wrong with the deadlock system. I've been driving skodas for years and I've never seen that message.

Nope.


More info here

http://www.vwgolf.org/safelock_mechanism-62.html

freddieot

The button on the dash in skoda (likely other makes to) is to unlock the doors while the car is being used (when picking someone up etc.)

It won't work if you get locked in. That would be stupid - thief breaks glass then leans in and presses button to open door. Why deadlock in the first place.

I get that safelock image on my skoda all the time. It just means it's activated.

Quackster

colm_mcm wrote: »

That doesn’t work if double locking is set (on Toyotas you usually need to double click the lock button to set double locking)

It works on my Ford anyway. Double-press the lock button on the key so the doors can't be opened using the inside handles and the doors can still be unlocked again by pressing this button.

Quackster

freddieot wrote: »

The button on the dash in skoda (likely other makes to) is to unlock the doors while the car is being used (when picking someone up etc.)

It won't work if you get locked in. That would be stupid - thief breaks glass then leans in and presses button to open door. Why deadlock in the first place.

I get that safelock image on my skoda all the time. It just means it's activated.

Thief is more likely to just break glass, lean in and grab what they want anyway, if they can't open the door straight away using the inside handle.

WAW

Miscreant wrote: »

My car (Toyota) has an unlock button on the inside that can be used as I have instinctively locked the car while walking away (while the missus was inside). This has only happened outside a shop and I have been back within 2 or 3 minutes.

I would be wondering how WAW's husband didn't miss her for the 40 minutes it took for her to get out of the car.....

I was waiting for someone to ask!! I was supposed to be heading off igor a walk. He assumed I was gone. Didn't look out the window and spot me or ages.

punisher5112

BMW missed a trick on this oh and of course fitted the obd port in a blind spot oh and smashing a window wouldn't set off the alarm either and clone a key and drive off....

Don't hear of it happening as much now though...