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Automotive News & Views Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)
14395 messages, Last post on Nov 30, 2009 at 6:19 PM
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Here's a conundrum I think ran into the other day. I will often come across cars in a parking lot that have had their lights left on. To a lot of people, the thought comes to their mind to take down the license number and once inside the store have the description paged out across the store in the hopes that the owner will hear the often unintelligible garble coming out of the overheads and realize that that the message is intended for them. This in my eyes is indeed a noble cause and just might prevent the embarrassment of having a dead battery and having to hunt down someone that either has jumper cables or is willing to give you a jump provided you were smart enough to have your own. I wonder though does it really work and does anyone really pay attention to what is being said over these things? I have long ago decided that this often does not work and have resorted to a much better course of action. It is probably different in larger cities, but in the small town were I live, I have found (myself included) that people don't lock their doors all the time. So in the cases where I have come across a vehicle that has had its lights left on, the first thing I will do is check to see if the door is open. More often than not surprisingly it has been open and I have been able to just reach in and shut the lights off. Problem solved. I now do not have to search for something to write on or try and remember a license plate number or anything. I just go about my journey and know that this person won't have a dead battery when they return to their vehicle... Case in point. The other day I happened to be downtown taking a test and a lady came in and asked if any of us in the room drove a red Mustang. No one replied in the affirmative and I asked if she had tried the doors to see if it was open. She looked at me incredulously and I just said I would have checked and then shut the lights off if I could. Since it was only right outside the door, I walked out to the car and sure enough the door was unlocked. I opened the door, reached in and shut off the lights. When I got back inside the receptionist had this "I can't believe you just did that look" on her face. I have never really thought anything of it before, but now that I do, maybe I am overstepping some bounds that I shouldn't? I mean I know it can be seen as though I were breaking into a vehicle that isn't mine, but if I can help prevent possible future problem with just a 2 second action then why not? |
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Replying to: the_big_al (Jan 20, 2009 1:06 am)
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Jan 20, 2009 5:13 am) But because it was a less-than-idea area, the keys needed to be taken out of the lock. But there's no way I was touching them or the car. |
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Replying to: the_big_al (Jan 20, 2009 1:06 am) What is surprising is that some vehicles still will not warn departing drivers that their lights are on. Since my 84 Honda, all subsequent cars we've owned have had a chime that sounds if you leave your car with lights on. Would never think of touching or opening up car door of someone's unattended vehicle. In event of baby or pet in car with windows closed and hot summer day, I would call 911 immediately and standby.
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Replying to: the_big_al (Jan 20, 2009 1:06 am) A small town is way different than a big city though. Heck, if you had a witness, I'd think that you'd be just fine. However, I do understand that we live in an age where doing nice things may still get you in big trouble. 
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Replying to: xrunner2 (Jan 20, 2009 6:23 am)
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Replying to: imidazol97 (Jan 20, 2009 7:37 am) 
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Replying to: davethecarnut (Jan 16, 2009 9:43 pm) 
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Replying to: the_big_al (Jan 20, 2009 1:06 am) I do that as well. But then, I also came from a small town where people did not get into others' vehicles unless for an act of kindness. I don't pay too much attention to lights any longer, as was noted above so many vehicles have a delayed "auto-off" function. But, if I see the vehicle a second time some time later and it is in the same spot with lights on, I will do my best to help the owner out. Nearly always the door is locked, so I pass the vehicle info on and go about my way; at least I tried to help.
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Replying to: xwesx (Jan 20, 2009 9:26 am) DEFCON 2 This refers to a further increase in force readiness just below maximum readiness. The most notable time it was declared was during the Cuban Missile Crisis, although the declaration was limited to Strategic Air Command. It is not certain how many times this level of readiness has been reached. link title Now it is just a reminder the locks are..... locked. 
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