Auto locking doors - are they safe?

[puternut]

I have ahad a Vauxhall for a couple of months now and just wondered what ABers views might be on one of the 'safety features'.

When the car reaches about 2 mph all the doors are automatically locked. This is, so I was told by the salesperson, to avoid any car-jacking. I also assume its to stop entry to someone you cut-up at the previous traffic lights as well.

The doors still open easily from the inside at any time but the outer handles are useless unless a button is pressed in the central dash.

My argument is if (IF) you are in a collision and the emergency services need to gain entry quickly surely this would slow them down and could truly mean a difference of life and death. I know I would rather risk a POSSIBLE car-jacking over a quicker exit if needs be.

Whats your opinion(s)

[Mamyalynne]

Most manufacturer's locks "unlock" several seconds
after a collision has been sensed. It's usually
explained in the owner manual.

Seen on a discussion site, have no clue if this is correct?

[pink-kittens]

My car does that also
I like that it does it as no one can get in form the outside when I am in it

[Hymie]

Mine does it at about 15 mph, but it is a feature that can be disabled via the control console.

If you are in a collision which has incapacitated any occupants of the vehicle, it is likely that the state of the mangled metalwork will determine whether the doors can be opened or not – rather than whether they were locked before impact.

The emergency services have an impressive set of hydraulic tools with which to extricate occupants of RTAs

[The-HouseHusband]

most have an over-ride feature that unlocks the doors if the airbags or seat belt pre-tensioners are activated, thus allowing access by the emergency services.

[puternut]

I did not know that they are rendered useless if you are in an acident. I must check the handbook [Yes I know I should RTFMF - read the f###in maunal first]

Hymie - whilst I do agree there are impressive tools at their disposal but to use them takes time - time you might not have.

[Andyvon]

You're quite right Puternut. There are many, many cases throughout the year when those on the scene have to open doors quickly to aid someone whose car is on fire or filling with water. There are also scenarios where drivers have a medical incapacity (such as a heart attack) and First Aiders have to get to them quickly. Time costs lives and in those cases every second counts.

How many incidents of 'car-jacking' are there? I can recall two or three that hit the news several years ago. We would hear about any more. The number of lives saved by quick rescue far outweigh the numbers at risk from supposed 'car-jacking'.

[craft1948]

My car does that.............I've never heard of a Smart Car hi-jack.

[dizmouk2009]

My step fathers Jag does that but at 7mph and once stationary unlocks again. That is purely put in place to stop people alighting the vehicle during transport.

[Old_Geezer]

I think it is the driver's choice not the car manufacturer's. It'd be a 'negative' on the list were I selecting a 'new' car.

[Andyvon]

Just something else to go wrong and only repairable at great expense.

[stoofur]

That is odd Dismouk.

So your Step Dad could be car jacked at traffic lights. But if the thief can run alongside when the car is moving then there is no way they can get in.

I would have expected the car to stay locked until you turn off the ignition maybe?

[Frankieola]

Most cars that have this feature have the function to disable it for those of you who are worried about such things, You simply go into the settings menu (Where other things such as reverse mirror dip and follow home headlights can be altered) and switch it off.
However, it is a feature that disables automatically if the car is in an accident, The sensors that work the ABS, Airbags, Seatbelt pre tensioners etc come together to release it so you should have no worries.

[puternut]

Thanks for the feedback guys n gals. Seems we are 50-50 for & against.

I have tried in a couple of forums and it seems that you - as Joe Public - cannot simply disarm it (as mentioned by Frankieola - to whom I would like to say 'it is not in the vehicle settings where you mention'). You need specialist gear i.e. via the electronics software.

It would also appear that it might disenage in the case of accident - but as far as I can see not mentioned in drivers manual - (airbags deployed etc) but that doesnt do it for me because you might be in a situation where you need to get out without deployed bags (eg as mentioned in water)

[MantaRay]

Having the doors locked would not affect the entry time once the emergency services arrived. However, the first people on the scene may well be hindered as they would not necessarily be armed with anything capable of breaking the glass immediately.

[SpikeyBush]

Seems like an optional system that a previous owner has chosen to engage. I have driven Vauxhalls for 20 years, the more recent models have had instructions in the book on how to initiate this but I have never bothered with it. If you're not comfortable with it, your book will tell you how to turn it off. It is certainly not unique to Vauxhall, indeed it is quite common now with most manufacturers.