Comments on: US Legislation Against Window Toggle Switches http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/ MotoringFile | MINI news, reviews and opinion. MINI Cooper, Cooper S, Clubman, Countryman Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: me again http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10800 me again Fri, 17 Sep 2004 06:41:05 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10800 <p>ritt,</p> <p>2 weeks for tinted windows? what kinda crack your installer smoking? 24 hours is all you need.</p> ritt,

2 weeks for tinted windows? what kinda crack your installer smoking? 24 hours is all you need.

]]> By: ritt http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10799 ritt Fri, 17 Sep 2004 05:54:55 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10799 <p>i am very surprised the mini doesn't have a window lock. many times i have gone to hit the foglight switch and accidently hit the pass. side window switch. i am thinking about having the windows tinted and cannot have the windows down for 2 weeks. as for safety and the nhtsa; any recall that may occur is purely up to the owner to have the toggles changed, i am very happy with mine and dont want to have them replaced.</p> i am very surprised the mini doesn't have a window lock. many times i have gone to hit the foglight switch and accidently hit the pass. side window switch. i am thinking about having the windows tinted and cannot have the windows down for 2 weeks. as for safety and the nhtsa; any recall that may occur is purely up to the owner to have the toggles changed, i am very happy with mine and dont want to have them replaced.

]]> By: RB http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10798 RB Thu, 16 Sep 2004 16:26:03 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10798 <p>MiniLife Crisis...</p> <p>Right on, that's very funny.</p> <p>...RB</p> MiniLife Crisis…

Right on, that's very funny.

…RB

]]> By: MiniLifeCrisis http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10797 MiniLifeCrisis Thu, 16 Sep 2004 14:16:42 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10797 <p>If you would for a moment, image that cars have not been invented until Today (2004). You wouldn't have a prayer to get them made because of lawyers. Image telling your lawyers that your new car, which hasn't been invented until today, is capable of 100 + mph, seats 4 or more, and the passengers are strapped to a chassis with at tank of liquid explosive material. To move the car about, an "engine" will use the liquid explosive material to generate 1000's of mini explosions each minute. And to top it off, your marketing experts predict that there will be millions of these 'cars' driving around the planet.</p> <p>oh yes... you would be permitted to produce such a thing today if it weren't already invented. NOT!</p> If you would for a moment, image that cars have not been invented until Today (2004). You wouldn't have a prayer to get them made because of lawyers. Image telling your lawyers that your new car, which hasn't been invented until today, is capable of 100 + mph, seats 4 or more, and the passengers are strapped to a chassis with at tank of liquid explosive material. To move the car about, an “engine” will use the liquid explosive material to generate 1000's of mini explosions each minute. And to top it off, your marketing experts predict that there will be millions of these 'cars' driving around the planet.

oh yes… you would be permitted to produce such a thing today if it weren't already invented. NOT!

]]> By: Rocketboy http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10796 Rocketboy Thu, 16 Sep 2004 09:10:37 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10796 <p>I'm just wondering how many traffic accidents will be caused by people being confused with child proof window switches.</p> I'm just wondering how many traffic accidents will be caused by people being confused with child proof window switches.

]]> By: Me http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10795 Me Thu, 16 Sep 2004 05:53:44 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10795 <p>parents with 4 door cars and power windows and uncontrollable children should just activate the drivers lockout so that the only switches that work are on the drivers door.</p> parents with 4 door cars and power windows and uncontrollable children should just activate the drivers lockout so that the only switches that work are on the drivers door.

]]> By: Dillon http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10794 Dillon Thu, 16 Sep 2004 02:10:35 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10794 <p>...my Wife and I don't have kids;however,when our Neighbor asked me to take her son to Pee-Wee Football practice he doesn't have a deep seated desire to play with the switches and jump out the window...</p> <p>Anyhoo,anything that will help save the life of a small child and won't get in the way of having complete fun with my and others' MINI,so be it...</p> …my Wife and I don't have kids;however,when our Neighbor asked me to take her son to Pee-Wee Football practice he doesn't have a deep seated desire to play with the switches and jump out the window…

Anyhoo,anything that will help save the life of a small child and won't get in the way of having complete fun with my and others' MINI,so be it…

]]> By: Matt Dolch http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10793 Matt Dolch Wed, 15 Sep 2004 22:38:25 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10793 <p>This is getting to a THX1138 society... And instead of escaping the colony with a rad scooter thing, it'll be a Mini Cooper S with a pulley voiding the warranty and toggle window switches!!!</p> This is getting to a THX1138 society… And instead of escaping the colony with a rad scooter thing, it'll be a Mini Cooper S with a pulley voiding the warranty and toggle window switches!!!

]]> By: Benjamin http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10792 Benjamin Wed, 15 Sep 2004 22:29:29 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10792 <p>"It's easier to put on slippers than carpet the entire world."</p> <p>-Stuart Smalley</p> “It's easier to put on slippers than carpet the entire world.”

-Stuart Smalley

]]> By: michael Boice http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10791 michael Boice Wed, 15 Sep 2004 22:23:23 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10791 <p>...parenting is difficult, you actually have to watch your children. </p> <p>Free the roadways from idiots and motor on my friends!</p> …parenting is difficult, you actually have to watch your children.

Free the roadways from idiots and motor on my friends!

]]> By: csdmmnt http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10790 csdmmnt Wed, 15 Sep 2004 21:35:27 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10790 <p>This is not inconsistent at least. Fits right in there with these real life warnings to save us from ourselves:</p> <p>http://www.octanecreative.com/warning/</p> This is not inconsistent at least. Fits right in there with these real life warnings to save us from ourselves:

http://www.octanecreative.com/warning/

]]> By: GSKChicago http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10789 GSKChicago Wed, 15 Sep 2004 20:58:06 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10789 <p>Sorry, meant to say they blame you even though the child wasn't restrained as COMMON SENSE states they should be.</p> Sorry, meant to say they blame you even though the child wasn't restrained as COMMON SENSE states they should be.

]]> By: GSKChicago http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10788 GSKChicago Wed, 15 Sep 2004 20:55:26 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10788 <p>To Jason's point, there is a law regarding children in the back, I think, but it depends on each state too, I think. Beyond that, there is a law that children have to be in a child seat restraint up to a specific weight requirement. </p> <p>How many times have you driven down the road and seen a kid standing in the car or sitting on someone's lap or both throughout a drive down the road. All is well and good until they slam on their brake's, the kid flies through the windshield and they blame you for that. They blame you even though the child wasn't restrained as law states they should be. </p> <p>This new window regulation is being put in place to accomodate those same geniuses who were breeding in the part of the gene pool that didn't have enough chlorine!</p> To Jason's point, there is a law regarding children in the back, I think, but it depends on each state too, I think. Beyond that, there is a law that children have to be in a child seat restraint up to a specific weight requirement.

How many times have you driven down the road and seen a kid standing in the car or sitting on someone's lap or both throughout a drive down the road. All is well and good until they slam on their brake's, the kid flies through the windshield and they blame you for that. They blame you even though the child wasn't restrained as law states they should be.

This new window regulation is being put in place to accomodate those same geniuses who were breeding in the part of the gene pool that didn't have enough chlorine!

]]> By: Bob Womack http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10787 Bob Womack Wed, 15 Sep 2004 20:38:42 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10787 <p>By the way, this isn't legislation, bcause no legislators were involved. This is a regulation from a government agency.</p> <p>Bob</p> By the way, this isn't legislation, bcause no legislators were involved. This is a regulation from a government agency.

Bob

]]> By: Phil http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10786 Phil Wed, 15 Sep 2004 19:44:39 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10786 <p>I doubt the MINI will be affected in any way. The location of the switches and the way they operate should pass the NHTSA requirements handily.</p> I doubt the MINI will be affected in any way. The location of the switches and the way they operate should pass the NHTSA requirements handily.

]]> By: Jason http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10785 Jason Wed, 15 Sep 2004 19:30:46 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10785 <p>The MINI is a two door four seater. Is it not already law that children under a specific size have to ride in the rear of a car? It would be pretty hard to have some kid in the back seat get his head stuck out the front windows. I think the NHTSA needs to focus on getting more of the monster trucks out of the hands of the soccer moms. They drive with a cell phone in one hand and five screaming kids in the rear.</p> The MINI is a two door four seater. Is it not already law that children under a specific size have to ride in the rear of a car? It would be pretty hard to have some kid in the back seat get his head stuck out the front windows. I think the NHTSA needs to focus on getting more of the monster trucks out of the hands of the soccer moms. They drive with a cell phone in one hand and five screaming kids in the rear.

]]> By: dgszweda http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10784 dgszweda Wed, 15 Sep 2004 18:58:39 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10784 <p>I say if someone gets hurt from the windows in the Mini, then count it as population control, and a good way to clean up the gene pool.</p> I say if someone gets hurt from the windows in the Mini, then count it as population control, and a good way to clean up the gene pool.

]]> By: BrantV http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10783 BrantV Wed, 15 Sep 2004 18:41:17 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10783 <p>I think we're safe too. But MINI has a pattern of reading the worst into these things and overreacting. i.e. the original missing rear fogs thinking they were illegal when they weren't. Of course they fixed that, and made them illegal in CA and OR. Go figure.</p> I think we're safe too. But MINI has a pattern of reading the worst into these things and overreacting. i.e. the original missing rear fogs thinking they were illegal when they weren't. Of course they fixed that, and made them illegal in CA and OR. Go figure.

]]> By: Sean Bartnik http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10782 Sean Bartnik Wed, 15 Sep 2004 18:04:37 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10782 <p>I don't think this legislation will affect the MINI's toggle switches. The types of switches referred to by NHTSA are like those found in many GM vehicles where the switches are mounted on the driver's door panel facing up and can be activated either way by pressing down on them one way or another.</p> <p>The model of course is the push-pull type switch found in cars like VW where you actually have to pull the switch up to roll the window up, which is much harder to activate accidentally.</p> <p>The MINI's switches are not a danger because even though they are toggle switches, they operate in a similar fashion to the push-pull switches -- you have to push up on them (and hold them) to make the window go up which again is difficult to do accidentally. And with the switches located centrally in the car it seems like it would be difficult for a child to activate the switch and hang his head out the window at the same time.</p> <p>The roll hoops around the switches are mainly there for crash protection but they serve the additional function of helping to prevent accidental activation.</p> <p>One touch up is a great convenience feature as long as pinch protection is present (and it is in cars like VW) so that even if someone manages to trap some body part in the closing window, the window will stop and reverse once the obstruction is encountered.</p> I don't think this legislation will affect the MINI's toggle switches. The types of switches referred to by NHTSA are like those found in many GM vehicles where the switches are mounted on the driver's door panel facing up and can be activated either way by pressing down on them one way or another.

The model of course is the push-pull type switch found in cars like VW where you actually have to pull the switch up to roll the window up, which is much harder to activate accidentally.

The MINI's switches are not a danger because even though they are toggle switches, they operate in a similar fashion to the push-pull switches — you have to push up on them (and hold them) to make the window go up which again is difficult to do accidentally. And with the switches located centrally in the car it seems like it would be difficult for a child to activate the switch and hang his head out the window at the same time.

The roll hoops around the switches are mainly there for crash protection but they serve the additional function of helping to prevent accidental activation.

One touch up is a great convenience feature as long as pinch protection is present (and it is in cars like VW) so that even if someone manages to trap some body part in the closing window, the window will stop and reverse once the obstruction is encountered.

]]> By: Scott http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/15/us_legislation_against_window_toggle_switches/comment-page-1/#comment-10781 Scott Wed, 15 Sep 2004 17:54:46 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/09/15/#comment-10781 <p>I guess I'll have to write to my Congresswoman to request legislation to require Darwin switches for all cars. Wait a minute, my Congresswoman is Lizzie Dole. Yep, I'd better start writing.</p> <p>(Mr Bridger, do you use a crash dummy to test these things?)</p> I guess I'll have to write to my Congresswoman to request legislation to require Darwin switches for all cars. Wait a minute, my Congresswoman is Lizzie Dole. Yep, I'd better start writing.

(Mr Bridger, do you use a crash dummy to test these things?)

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