Do you lock your car doors while driving?

[TheKitchenWitch]

I've had 2 instances when I've been very glad that I've had the car doors locked late at night, although it's not something I usually do.
I now can't decide whether it's better to have them locked or not.
DH's car has automatic door locking, which makes me think it might be a better idea for some reason?

I lock mine if I'm in a dodgy area or it's late at night.

Mine lock automatically but I would lock them anyway. Sometimes I pull up at the lights and see someone who makes me double check.

Mine lock automatically too. If I was alone in the car, particularly at night I would lock my doors if it didn't do it itself.

It depends on where I am. Most of my journeys are in free moving traffic in pleasant areas. In stop/ start urban areas or dodgy neighbourhoods yes. At night, more likely.

Generally yes, although not always straight away, I usually check them the first time I stop in traffic or at lights.

No. If I have an incident I want to be able to get out straight away.

I’m forever reminding DH to do this, so many really nasty carjackings in my area recently it’s really not safe to leave doors unlocked.

I used to always lock mine on the recommendation of my driving instructor as he said it takes nothing for someone to open your door and grab your handbag (which of course, I keep on the passenger seat like most people) whilst you're sat at traffic lights.

I got a bit lax when I moved into a 'nicer' area and then had a really horrible experience with a man getting into my car whilst I was pulling out of B&Q mid-afternoon on a busy Saturday...it really spooked me so I always lock them now.

We lived in South Africa so it’s just become a very ingrained habit to lock them straight away.

Yes, always

Not usually but yesterday was approached at lights by someone begging for money so I did lock them as DS was in the car.

No. If I have an incident I want to be able to get out straight away.

Even if I've locked the doors, they automatically unlock when I open my door to get out. I think that deployment of airbags in an accident automatically unlocks them, too.

What if you're stuck in the car, can't open the door yourself ie injured, but airbags didn't go off? Airbags will only activate in certain types of collisions.

Yes, I lock mine, even if I'm not alone in the car. a colleague of mine was carjacked - in a European capital city - twenty-odd years ago and I've locked my doors ever since. (She was OK thank goodness)

I do when I'm driving by myself and it's dark (anywhere) or if I'm in a dodgy area (irregardless of whether it's night time or I'm alone).

My friend who lives in Hackney was most offended when I was dropping her home after an event at 2am and I locked them - I know the odds are vanishingly small but it's habit.

Mine lock automatically, but if they didn’t, then yes I would lock them.

Mine lock straight away. To unlock them from the inside all I need to do is pull the door handle. Feel much safer.

Mine lock automatically. I’d lock them if they didn’t

I usually don’t these days, but I must get back into the habit of locking them.

I used to drive as part of my job and I would have phones, bag etc on the passenger seat. I was stopped at a light in the city centre when someone tried the door and thankfully I had locked them that day. They tried the door and then thumped the car hard, in frustration I suppose.

Always

What if you're stuck in the car, can't open the door yourself ie injured, but airbags didn't go off?

Aargh! You've just shattered my 'think I've covered every angle' peace of mind, Thanks! Thanks

I had people try to get into my car while I was driving 3 times in a fortnight and after that always lock up.

Mine lock automatically and to be honest at first I found it a bit silly as I live in quite a safe area , but honestly it's really quite comforting when I hear the click so I'm actually a big fan now having thought they were a bit ott before

Mine lock automatically. When I crashed my car and it landed on the roof it wouldn't have made a difference if the doors were locked or not, couldn't open them because they were too 'dented'.

Yes, I always do if I'm driving on my own or with the kids in the back as I put my handbag either on the passenger seat or in the footwell if I have the window open.