Women's handbags and cars.
Posted by: Roz
20th Jun 2011 12:11am
I am amazed and pleased that finally a car maker has finally made a provision for a womens handbag. Considering the number of women who drive and own cars, and the fact that a handbag is as essential as shoes to women. I find it baffling it has taken manufacturers so long to make a provision in the car for a handbag. The glovebox is provided for a man's wallet, if needed, but women have had to put their handbags on the passanger seat or floor. This is not very safe as if you brake hard everything ends up on the floor or in the case of an accident the bag and contents can turn into missiles in the cabin of the car. Women do not want to put their handbags in the boot. This type of discrimination or plain thoughtlessness has gone on long enough. Finally there is a car on the market who accomodates the handbag. Hooray.
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Comments 14
PGS
Damn - it looked like a comparison of a car to a handbag. The car is an extension of the handbag with more room for the obligatory makeup store & brick supply.
:)
Sil sil
Great, can they please make head rests that suit a pony tail!? I mainly have my hair up but find I have to take it off to drive as I get a neck ache leaning in, took off my head rest once but was told it's illegal & if I had an accident & got neck injuries the insurance may not pay as I had it off. One step at a time I guess
Anonymous
I don't believe it!!! Someone has finally realised that a place for handbags etc has been in place evr since/before the age of the motor car, ie THE FLOOR!!! If you're concerned that the bag and contents could become missiles, might I suggest that you clean out the bag, and lo and behold - you'll discover you don't need such a thing. You poor thing, being discriminated against because the world doesn't agree with you. Tut, tut - get a life and write about something that matters.
Anonymous
Ever since i became a first time Mum in 2001, i had to learn to make some room in my car which was a Honda Integra at the time and i found that all the babies needs were more than what i had in my handbag so i started to grab my wallet, cellphone and gum (if any) chuck it in the glove box zip up my bag like you would also zip up the baby day bag and put it in the boot. 10 years and child number 2 later i still put my handbag in the boot. I had friends who found what i do with my handbag that they followed suit. I know it may sound like a "pain to do" kind of thing but i do realise how safe it can be after reading your discussion. Maybe the car boot can be the glove box for the handbags after all.
CAT17
Hi Roz thanks for starting this conversation on handbag compartment. I have enjoyed reading everyone's comments and though I would love to have a little car with a little handbag compartment, my husband, picnic basket,, munchies tissues, travel rug, motel directory and road trip atlas and ofcourse my handbag - THEY JUST WOULD NOT FIT! Oh for the day when I can travel light!!
Anonymous
yes, I'm sure my kids are not happy about the grazes that appear on their legs from Mum grabbing the handbag from the passenger side floor ripping their poor skin off with a with a nasty big zipper on it...also making more room for those front passengers legs not to mention those already squeezy back seat floors...yipppeee for handbag compartments...
Jenny
Hah! Pity the Nissan Micra is so small you could only fit you and your handbag in it! Give me something a little more spacious so I can transport my handbag, and my 2 kids, maybe a friend and all the sports gear.
Roz
Yep Jenny your right it is a very small car and I must admit I didn't have nearly as much stuff in my bag as I do now. So of course my bag is bigger now, especially once us have kids. Need to lobby the car manufacturers to make handbag compartments universal.
Roz
Well finally saw the add on t.v. again and can now confirm that it is a Nissan Micra TA that has the handbag compartment in the passanger side front seat. Couldn't tell you all b4 because couldn't remember the exact small car.
Miss Prim
Roz, that is unfair to say that there is finally a car on the market that accommodates the handbag and not tell us the name of it. I guess you will be asked this question lots of times so you had better let us all know.
flossbloss
Yes, who is this genius company? Can they also please include a decent place to keep a tissue box without it too becoming part of the 'heap on the floor"?!
CAT17
This is fascinating! Which car manufacturer has finally decided women have needs too. You are right - the is somewhere for the drinks, somewhere for the mobile phone, somewhere for the tapes, cds etc. even the passengers get a place to put things, but nowhere is there a safe place for our handbag. I usually put mine on the floor but take my phone and garage key out and put them in a little "slot" on the console, that way they are where I can get to them if needed. I always drive with the doors locked too, no one is going to open my door without my permission! Safe driving!
CAT17
Thanks for your advice Blossom, I never thought of the fact that no one could get in in the case of an accident. It is going to take me awhile to be brave enoigh to drive "unlocked" I do have a glass hammer on the floor next to my driver's seat in case the electrics "go out" and I cant get out of the car. Never thought of the other way round. Safe driving to you and thanks again.
jjdrer
There is only one problem with driving with your car doors locked. In the unfortunate event of an accident it is very difficult for another person to render you assistance or get you out if there is risk of the vehicle catching fire. My brother works in motor vehicle recovery and has a firstaid certificate, including a special course in motor accident injury treatment. Valuable time is wasted braking into a car to render assistance. One of his workmates found a car that had crashed into a pole and the driver was bleeding. He tore up his clean T-shirt to use to put pressure on the wound, but had to spend time forcing his way into the car. The lady later died in hospital. possibly because he found it so difficult to force his way into the car as he didn't have the right equipment in the truck to do so. Most don't have any tools of any type in a vehicle to even be to attempt to render assistance. If your handbag isn't too thick, you can push it part way under the passenger seat on its side. It is less likely to become a missile. Even a tissue box can become a missile if you slam the brakes on, especially if it is fairly full. Some remote lock and steering lock systems actually lock your doors when you start your motor. A guy I know had an almighty argument with a fitter about this for they very reason I have stated above. He took the car back and told them to fix the problem and that if they didn't they would not be paid until he tested it and they had done so. They fed him some spiel about insurance rules which he proved to be incorrect. At least the brackets for mobile phones are sturdy, and the phone shouldn't "fly" out of it.
Many products not just cars are designed by men and have really bad design faults, including a refrigerator my parents bought. When it had to be serviced under warranty, my Mother commented about an aspect of the design which they all had. The service guy admitted that Ladies use them most but are never consulted when designs are being changed.