Drivers with arms outside the vehicle body

mustang6000

It was a very common practice when I first started driving because, as other have said, vehicle air conditioning was unheard of in the type of cars we drove. I will also admit that it was a form of posing, arm out the window, sunnies on & durry hanging from your lips.
Also had to have the radio or cassette player going full blast.

PGS

KEEPING INSIDE A VEHICLE
A person must not travel with any part of their body outside a window or door of
the vehicle, unless the person is the driver and is giving a hand signal for changing
direction, stopping or slowing.
The driver must not drive with a passenger on the vehicle or with any part of the
passenger’s body outside the vehicle.


NSW:
Offence Penalty Notice Fines Points Law
SAFETY OF DRIVER/PASSENGERS
Part of body outside vehicle window/door (driver/passenger) $330 3 Road Rules 2014 & Rule 268 (3)
SAFETY OF DRIVER/PASSENGERS
Drive with part of passengers body outside window/door $330 3 Road Rules 2014 & Rule 268 (4)

Gerry1945

Yes I agree my next door neighbor lost an arm when 55 years ago as another vehicle side swiped him.
I still see it these days also. A friend told me 'you cannot fix stupid'

super88

People stopped winding their drivers side windows down so often because air conditioning, climate control , and window de misting has vastly improved since the old days when climate control meant winding down the window.
The days of carrying water for drinking in a canvas bag hooked to the cars grill to keep it cold are also in the passed.

socker

People stopped winding their drivers side windows down so often because air conditioning, climate control , and window de misting has vastly improved since the old days when climate control meant...

Sure do but never used one and also the little arms that light up and flicked out from either side depending which way you intended to turn.

super88

I am 75 and remember cars with the water-bag hanging on the front front bumper in fact special brackets were made and bolted to the bumper (which in those days were built to withstand parking...

You might remember these too socker.
Years ago, I knew an old codger who let me borrow his rusted old flat bed truck for a day.
It was a terrible thing to drive. Bad breaks and syncro shot to bits, but the engine was OK and did all the work needed as long as I could find a gear.

It had the old manual metal hand signal mounted on the drivers door.
(put it out to turn right, plus push a button on the end to mechanically lift the hand to signal a stop or left turn.
As I recall he eventually lost that arm (maybe it just fell off).

socker

People stopped winding their drivers side windows down so often because air conditioning, climate control , and window de misting has vastly improved since the old days when climate control meant...

I am 75 and remember cars with the water-bag hanging on the front front bumper in fact special brackets were made and bolted to the bumper (which in those days were built to withstand parking mishaps and the odd kangaroo) not the plastic rubbish of today. Vehicles then were built to withstand a crash not to progressively crumple and the occupants bounced around inside like loose nuts is a tin can.

But I do not know of any of my friends or acquaintances who lost their arms

a1

sadly there are still drivers with their arm out the window - whether it be left or right. Right hands should be on the wheel. Arms outside lower the response to emergency if required. I think worse still is the growing habit of passengers putting their feet on the dash as well as having left arm out the window. As a nurse I am sick of patching these injuries.

Anonymous

To me for a driver hang the arm outside, it is really rude. It felt like they are showing off they can drive something like that.

muckypaws

Yes I too know a guy who lost his right arm due to a roll over accident in a car. Always tell the kids to keep there arms inside.

Anonymous

That is exactly right. Besides it leaves you with an uneven tan line, so ew. It is more cofmtable to drive like that thou.

joelndylansmum

Or it could simply be because the don't have aircon and are hot. Yes its stupid if its hanging right down but if it just resting their elbow on door than there is nothing wrong with that

super88

Or it could simply be because the don't have aircon and are hot. Yes its stupid if its hanging right down but if it just resting their elbow on door than there is nothing wrong with that

Yep, I see no big drama about resting your elbow on the open window of a car door.
We probably open our windows less these days ,due to air-con and climate control and vehicle design improvements.
All cars are,equipped with indicators , so the necessity for using hand signals is gone.
As for arms flailing outside the windows . I don't see it any more frequently than people doing stupid stuff inside their car while driving - eating breakfast from a bowl , shaving, putting on make- up

Hol94

my dad almost lost his arm rolling his kombi on his arm in the 70's!

Stars11

I saw a bare foot resting on a passenger side outside mirror today!

deblane

I saw a bare foot resting on a passenger side outside mirror today!

A young friend of mine hung his whole head out of the window while doing the reversing part for his drivers licence test the other day. Needless to say he failed!

Rhil

I agree a friend of mine in the 70's always drove with his arm out the window and he did have an accident and his arm was jammed between the car and a lampost and it ruined his future as his job was with his hands and he lost the use if his arm.Every time I see someone with his arm out I remember my friend.

Anonymous

I agree a friend of mine in the 70's always drove with his arm out the window and he did have an accident and his arm was jammed between the car and a lampost and it ruined his future as his job...

I'm only 19, but my grandfather lost his arm this way and would always harp on about the dangers of it! He used to be footloose and fancy free, but now he rarely drives, and he was in his 40s when it happened. It's changed his life and our families. So think twice before doing so, it may be hot, but I'd rather keep the status of 2 arms, and I'm sure most would agree.

Anonymous

i've never once had my arm out the window thinking that i look cool
i do it because its comfortable and it becomes habit.
but i also only have my elbow resting on the sil rather than having my whole arm out.

possum

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules.

Anonymous

I think it's more common in guys to do this as they think that it's cool and a way to attract chicks. It's really not cool and too many accidents are occuring because of the stupidity of some people. My nana used to tell me that if I put my arm out the window I might lose it!

jjdrer

I agree a friend of mine in the 70's always drove with his arm out the window and he did have an accident and his arm was jammed between the car and a lampost and it ruined his future as his job...

Some female passengers put their arms out too. One has a tendency to block the view of the exterior mirror for the driver. I know one whose her boyfriend used to complain about her blocking the mirror because of the way she did it. If I was with them I was always worried it would assist in the cause of an accident. I casually mentioned that it was dangerous a couple of times. I don't know if she still does it or not. We lost contact when we all moved house at different times and they got involved in disputes.
It is an offence under the Road Traffic Act too.

gadgetgeek

This is so dangerous. I have noticed it a lot having just moved back to Sydney. All it takes is for scar to whizzed by or hit side on and there goes an ARM or hand

PukPuk

Most cars these days have a higher window level so unless the seat is adjusted to its highest level, it is uncomfortble to have the arm out of the window. Was not the reason for the design but is a positive side benefit reducing the likely hood of protruding limbs. But the trend to the very small cars is probably now limiting the ability to have the bottom level of the window high enough to have this side benefit. Now a matter of saving fuel by lightening the car weight further by right side limb removal.

iforoc

I had a school friend who lost his arm this way. He was not a show off or larrikin - he just had no aircon & the window open & arm out