Car door opening risk behaviour - a solution.

[Kevin_1]

Hi folks

In my last post on 'wilful' falling from the wheelchair it emerged quite a few of us also faced our loved one opening the car door whilst the car was in motion.

Super scary!

For what it's worth here are two solutions.

Our car door inside catches are recessed. So putting gaffer tape over them makes them inaccessible. Of course this doesn't work if your loved one can get the tape off.

Solution two - our chosen one. Open up the door panel and disengage the rod between the passenger door catch and the lock/latch. The passenger door can no longer be opened from inside even if unlocked.

It will still lock by central locking or from the outside, but the door will only open from the outside and then only when unlocked.

If you can't do this yourself your garage will do this in ten minutes max.

Does anyone have other solutions?

Hope this is useful.

Cheers

Kevin

Adding

These look like a good idea too...

I have one on order.

smile.amazon.co.uk/Auto-Bel...

[honjen43]

Presume disengaging the rod inside the door is like having a child lock (usually on a rear door).

Can such a reversible mechanism be fitted to passenger door, rather than having to dismantle door again to return to status quo?

Have always feared such door catches could be a hazard in a crash, as I would not be able to open that door from inside. No doubt you have already considered this!

Are there any road rule/police implications if such a mod installed? Could you be considered liable in a crash?

Yeah! Yeah! I have a similar fetish for dotting I s ( which spellcheck won't let me do!) and crossing t s! Just like you!

Do hope it works for you both and you both stay safe and are able to enjoy driving together!

Big hugs to you both!

Jen XXX XXX

[Kevin_1 in reply to honjen43]

Good points Jen

As far as crashes are concerned the only disadvantage would be that the door has to be opened from the outside... or by winding the window down and reaching outside and using the outside door opening catch.

Rear doors have the child lock mechanism so no mods. needed there. That might also give us the answer to the law on disabling passenger doors from the inside?

I expect, strictly speaking the insurance company should be informed. A standard question is, "Has the car been modified in any way?".

As for liability in a crash. The cause of the crash bestows liability. Any modification adding to that cause might cause liability, such as having a map blocking the drivers view, but I doubt a disabled door latch could be considered a cause.

Chuckles - thorough is good... Dotting stuff

Hugs to you

Kevin

xxx

Adding - yes to reverse it the inside door panel is removed and the rod re-engaged.

Very quick and simple.

[Kevin_1 in reply to honjen43]

Sorry I missed your question.

I don't know a child lock could be incorporated on the front door. Rear doors are usually of different dimensions from the front. So just switching parts over might not work.

A skilled mechanic might be able to fabricate something. Though I expect it would take quite a bit of time and I expect that would mean expensive. I'm not sure quite how the child lock mechanism fits into the chain.

I guess you could get a quote?

Hugs

xx

[honjen43]

And do you really want to ask that question - and blow your cover!!!!

[Kevin_1 in reply to honjen43]

LOL - I think I have blown my cover!

Chuckling

[honjen43 in reply to Kevin_1]

Bless you! It must be agonisingly hard! Do whatever you need to to keep her safe!

Hope it works!

Hugs

Jen xxx

[Kevin_1 in reply to honjen43]

Thanks

This one exercised by tired old brain considerably!

We reached a point where taking Liz out in the car had become too dangerous and she so loves getting out of the home to come home or to go on jaunts.

It works

Hugs

Kevin

xx

[easterncedar]

Oh dear! My guy scared the life out of me on a couple of occasions opening the door while we were moving, and chided me over my overreaction. He couldn't understand the danger. And then he locked me out once, too, with the key in the ignition, and couldn't manage to unlock the door for the longest time. I wish he were here to do it again.

[Kevin_1 in reply to easterncedar]

Oh, EC!

My heart bleeds for Liz, but I read your post and I know that, despite this nightmare, I still have her. Thank you for reminding me.

Your shared love is still so wonderful. What can I say to someone who has lost their other?

In my limited way I understand. I have not yet trod that aweful road. I dread it.

Hugs to you and on the darkest nights, do go and see if there is a moon shining off the cold snow.

Hugs to you

Warmly an so ever sadly.

Kevin

[Cuttercat in reply to easterncedar]

Charles did it too but how I wish he was here to do it again. Alas

Cuttercat

[Kevin_1 in reply to Cuttercat]

Hi Cuttercat

My heart goes out to you.

I dread the day I loose her. I cannot imagine how empty it must feel.

Hugs

Warmly

Kevin

xxx

[Yvonneandgeorge]

Kevin when George gets in the car he is a nightmare wants to touch everything xxxxx

[Kevin_1 in reply to Yvonneandgeorge]

Hi Yvonne

I have been wondering.

There is so little our loved ones can do. Then they sit in a car and there are all of these knobs and buttons which they can use to do things.

It is a nightmare!

xxx

[Yvonneandgeorge in reply to Kevin_1]

So true Kevin maybe we could get a stick on steering wheel for them xxx

[Cuttercat in reply to Kevin_1]

Good point. Like children playing

CC

[daffodil48]

handcuff hands behind them!!! Joking joking!!!!

[Kevin_1 in reply to daffodil48]

I too am prone to evil thoughts - LOL

[daffodil48 in reply to Kevin_1]

you are as baaaad as I am

[Tippyleaf]

Thanks Kevin this all very useful.

Luckily opening the car door whilst driving had been limited to 2 ( very scary) incidents . I have discovered podcasts which keep him entertained and distracted from Houdini episodes!!

Harder and routinely a challenge is keeping hubby in the car whilst I assemble wheelchair and power pack. I am almost the speed of a Formula 1 🏎 pitstop mechanic but apparently not fast enough for the old impulsivity. He can override the central locking so I will ask the garage to sort this one !! Why had I not thought of this before!!

Thank you so much, you are amazing to be researching these things for us

Love and hugs Tippy

[Kevin_1 in reply to Tippyleaf]

Hi Tippy

This might be a less drastic solution for you.

Seat Belt lock:

amazon.co.uk/Auto-BeltLock-...

I too had the pit stop rush thing... That is such a good description BTW

Now the seatbelt stays on until I am ready.

Hugs to you

Kevin

x

[Tippyleaf in reply to Kevin_1]

Ordered 👍

Thank you

Love Tippy

[Cuttercat in reply to Tippyleaf]

Indy 500 has nothing on us!! I did it too.

CC

[Kevin_1 in reply to Cuttercat]

Thanks for the chuckle - I needed one just then

[Kaylewis]

I missed the post on willfull falling from wheelchair, is this part of PSP, I have never posted about it but mum often throws herself forward when sitting in wheelchair, quite scary, and sometimes two or three attempts in a row.

[Kevin_1 in reply to Kaylewis]

Hi Kay

It seems to be fairly common. Its quite distressing isn't it. Liz has been trying to stand and then falling. So we needed to stop her undoing her seatbelt. We discussed it with her first and she agreed to there being a security cover on her wheelchair seat belt.

I have managed to find some solutions:

Fitting an antitipping leg to the back of the wheelchair to stop it being tipped backwards... The precise one depends on make and model.

Fitting a buckle cover to the seat belt so my lovely can't undo it and try to mobilise

(Scroll down to Security cover)

invacare.co.uk/sites/uk/fil...

Though it is only used with my wife's permission.

I am getting her a postural support 'Chest strap' to help her sit upright. (not for security)

Hope this is useful.

[Kaylewis]

Thankyou Kevin all good tips as usual. It’s not nice to see is it. X

[daddyt]

Good to know.

Tim

[Kevin_1 in reply to daddyt]

Sorry Tim

I can't imagine how horrible it is to read all of this stuff. Did you cover that in your book?

Best to you

Warmly

Kevin

[daddyt in reply to Kevin_1]

I've touched on it briefly, but speak more about in the next book.

Tim

[Kevin_1]

Any chance of a brief post sometime, or Chronicle entry to help us up to speed?

Only if and when.

I think I'm asking too much... Sorry if that's the case.