Do you let your hand hang outside the window?
By I_LUV_U
@I_LUV_U (2519)
India
June 8, 2008 2:35am CST
I mean while commuting in public transport vehicles, esp. buses, many people lay their hand or a part of their hand (e.g. elbow) outside the window.
I remember being warned on a couple of occasions by the bus conductors for letting my hands feel the wind outside. But I never really learned my lessons to keep it in, as I had somehow habituated into unconsciously doing it. Then one day, it occurred again, except for this time the alert came from someone I had never expected of. She was barely 6 or 7, but had the common sense that could put an adult thrice as old to shame.
She insisted I take my hand in, or else I might lose it. I nodded and thanked her, wearing a smile, but not forgetting to obey her orders. Although I was tempted several times on that journey, I didn't put my hand out, as it would mean contempt to her showing concern.
Although I have not got rid of this habit totally yet, I make sure to keep my hand within the bus at least while I am consciously aware of it.
So, how about you, do you keep your hands safe or at stake? Or, do you like dangling it as a pendulum? Have you ever gotten close to an accident doing this? Do share!
22 people like this
96 responses
@masalawnabata (92)
• Philippines
8 Jun 08
Nope, i'm afraid to do that, i'm afraid in accident. hanging your hand outside the window is prone to accident. my mom used to say that to me when i was a kid. Now i knew the importance of my mom's teaching.
2 people like this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
9 Jun 08
Hi there,
I think it's high time you remember the lady's advice. She must be obeyed at any cost.
I , hardly, find myself doing that. I am kinda disciplined and still remember my mother's advices.
Thanks.
1 person likes this
@tholitz (1127)
• Philippines
8 Jun 08
So how does it feel to be warned out by a young girl. Looks like our young people are growing up in good way (at least for this girl).
Anyway going back to your topic, I also had this habit of hanging my hand out of the vehicle. Though I do this whenever I drive my car. I usually run the car for some kilometers without air conditioned just to heat up the engine. Due to the hot weather in my country I will bring down the window all the way down then I will place my hand outside touching the top of the car. So far I still have my hand and nothing bad or accident had happened. But thanks also for reminding me about this same habit we have.
@bennyboy11223 (1)
• Australia
9 Jun 08
I always did. Un till mum told me a bout a story of this guy getting his arm chop off. never done it
1 person likes this
@Icewaterwarm (233)
• China
8 Jun 08
It's very dangerous. I will not do it . But when I ' m young I like stretch my hand and head out of the window.
I really don't know why I want to do . Every time my mother warn me ,DON'T LAY YOUR HAND AND HEAD OUT WINDOW.
Now , I think my mom is right . Because you don't know whether a car behind your vehicle .If you lay your hand out of window suddenly ,and a car are ready to overtake . I think the result is terrible .
If I have a child , I will never let him do it .
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Aren't we adults such hypocrites, though? LOL! Of course I'm the same way. If I DID do it now, I'd make sure I wasn't influencing any children.
You made a good point about people coming up from BEHIND, too. I never thought of that! But then again, there was SOOOO much less traffic on those old country roads that I'd have HEARD anyone coming, anyhow!
Maggiepie
@seabeauty (1480)
• United States
2 Aug 08
I always keep my hands arms and elbows inside the vehicle.
What I don't like is when I see people with their pets' heads sticking outside of the window. Aren't they afraid the dog will get hurt? I mean I know the dogs love feeling the breeze on their faces but I would be nervous about Fido getting his face smooshed .
@titaniumsoul (1191)
• Singapore
2 Aug 08
When I was young, I normally put my hand out of the window because I thought it was cool to do that till the bus conductor warn at me and other passengers and I never listen just like you. Currently, almost 90% of the buses are air-conditioned so no chance to stick my hand out to act cool. In addition, I know that it is dangerous to do that but I don't listen and I don't even have a 6 or 7 yr old kid to remind me. 
. I had not got into any accidents involving this action before. Well, sometimes I even put my head out before the bus companies implement every buses to be air-conditioned.
. I had not got into any accidents involving this action before. Well, sometimes I even put my head out before the bus companies implement every buses to be air-conditioned.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
2 Aug 08
Yea. That young gal was right. 
When I was very young, I used to put my hand out of the window. I was always reprimanded by my mommy for that. Once when I put my hand out of the window, my hand nearly caught a motorcyclist. I was so scared that I screamed and hugged my mommy. From then on, I didn't dare to do it. I truly learn my lesson.
When I was very young, I used to put my hand out of the window. I was always reprimanded by my mommy for that. Once when I put my hand out of the window, my hand nearly caught a motorcyclist. I was so scared that I screamed and hugged my mommy. From then on, I didn't dare to do it. I truly learn my lesson. 
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
13 Aug 08
When I am driving I have my arm sticking out the left hand window. I always have a darker tan on my left arm than my right arm, because of this. When I am a passenger I also keep my right arm out the window. My arm is resting on the window part, where it goes down into the door, so it isn't sticking out very far. So it isn't dangerous as no car gets that close to my car, that they could hit it. I guess it is just a bad habit to do, but I have never really thought too much about it before.
@sona22 (1430)
• India
8 Jun 08
I do not do so and I told my daughter not to do so. Though I have not witnessed any accident for such habits but after marriage my husband has witnessed such accident. He was returning from his office by a public bus. Suddenly a painful cry arose and the passengers noticed that a fellow passenger is crying and his right hand totally wounded. They went to a nearby hospital. Many of the passengers were there till midnight. The doctors tried but amputed the right hand. My husband and other passengers gave him blood.
So, please be careful before hanging your hands outside the car window. This is my appeal to all mylotters, their family members and friends.
1 person likes this
@cmk422000 (82)
• India
8 Jun 08
Hi I_LUV_U, i dodnot think this fair and godd for oneself, this may lead to an dangerous accident and one may got serious injury. i always avoid such situation and always take care that such incident should not happen. thanks for posting such a nice disscusion.
1 person likes this
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
8 Jun 08
My Dad was in a vehicle accident when he was a teen, his hand was outside the car window he lost two fingers and the entire back of his hand. He had to undergo numerous skin grafts to help repair the back of his hand. There was four people in the car and he was the driver he was also lucky because two of the passengers did not survive. So no i NEVER put my hand outside a moving vehicle of any type, and anyone riding in a vehicle that i am driving doesn't either! I have actually pulled off the road and refused to move until my niece placed her hand back in the car.
1 person likes this
@devilangelo (4522)
• India
21 Jul 08
. well .. wen i m using the public transport service . i never put my hand out of the window .. it aint safe .. neither wen im driving my car do i put my hnads of window .. while driving . I only put my hands out wen im in the passenger seat .. the road is empty .. ( i first check that) ... i just put my hands out of the window . n feel the force of the wind against my hand .. its amazing
@SViswan (12051)
• India
27 Jul 08
I am a very cautious person and never put hand or any part of my body outside the window while travelling in a vehicle. I make sure my kids don't do it too. My older one is very good about it and he's just like the little girl who corrected you. He would tell anyone if he saw them doing it. But my younger one seems to be a 'bindaas' character and quite likely to do it when he wishes and so I keep a close watch on him at all times.
@pitstop (13798)
• Australia
27 Jul 08
Its been taught to me from early childhood never to do that and I have stuck to keeping my arms in. I sometimes rest my elbow on the window but never hanging out. Better to be safe than sorry.
In India vehicles travel very close to each other on congested roads and it is very much possible to get your arm injured or bumped!
@Mitraa (3184)
• India
27 Jul 08
Happy to learn your experiences on hands outside and the tiny advisor! May the tiny advisor have better things in life! Not only hands, it is our prime duty to keep everything inside a moving vehicle. I have seen women after getting into the car and closing the door, have the part of their sarees outside the door! This is equally risky also! Hope you may have followed my point. Thanks for this nice topic!
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
27 Jul 08
it was good for you that you listened to that little girl. we could never guess what might happen. there have been accidents concerning hands stretched outside a vehicle window. not only physical accidents but also jewelries on that hand being snatched by felons.
i don't dare put my hand or head outside a vehicle window because its just being reckless and careless and i don't want to be blamed and to be told its my fault for being stupid when an accident happens. ^__^ my mother had always told us to be careful in riding open-windowed vehicles because its really dangerous. we don't only have to watch out for accidents but we also have to watched out for snatchers. we can't really tell what might happen.
