Why You Should Never Drive with the Window Half Open

Either roll it up or roll it down. Here's why you should never leave the window halfway open.

In recent weeks, a video has gone viral on Instagram looking into the safety issues related to car windows being left halfway down whilst driving. Bernat Escolano, who has always worked with cars and has an Instagram account with over 120,000 followers, made a video warning anyone driving a car, whether driver or passenger, to keep the windows either fully closed or fully open while driving. They can be in either of these two positions, but never halfway.

Escolano emphasizes the safety importance related to the car window's position, recommending avoiding keeping them halfway, explaining that "it could cut your head off" in case of an accident. He suggests that, at most, they should remain open just two fingers high to avoid any impact in case of a severe crash.

This advice is especially relevant during summer when enjoying the fresh breeze in the car is a pleasant sensation but can have dangerous consequences, he claims.

Besides the risk of severe accidents, such as cuts or injuries, keeping the car window open has other negative impacts. The presence of external noise, dust, insects, and other possible distractions are some of the issues that can arise from this. Additionally, from an aerodynamic perspective, driving with the windows open can increase fuel consumption, affecting the vehicle's efficiency. If you drive like this regularly, you will end up paying more money per month on your car. 

If the windows are completely open, the danger is even greater. An arm or hand sticking out can suffer severe injuries. Therefore, the safest option, whilst air conditioning is available, is to keep the windows completely closed while driving.

Furthermore, driving with the elbow resting on the window is a common image in movies and advertisements, evoking a sense of freedom behind the wheel. Although this posture is very common among drivers, it is not recommended. Another extremely dangerous position for the passenger is placing the feet on the dashboard. It may seem comfortable, but in case of a frontal collision, the consequences can be fatal.