Why lock car doors while driving?

[javasaurus]

When I was taking drivers education classes, one of the "rules" was to lock your car before you put it in drive. But why?


In favor of locking:
Maybe in an area where you stop a lot, a carjacker or other villain might open the door when you stop.

Against locking:
If you are in an accident, and unconcious, rescue workers won't be able to get in.


But is there a real, honest to goodness, not based on hyped up fear, safety reason for locking the doors?

Comments

[rsteachout.livejournal.com]

Perhaps because in the "way back then" time, car doors wouldn't always latch correctly and could potentially open without warning during a turn. That was one of the things that Nader fought to improve (Unsafe at Any Speed). Locking the door added an extra measure of security in keeping the door from flying open. Like many things, the old "lock the door" rule live on beyond the time the reason for its existence ended.

[dawntreader]

i've always wondered if a car was less likely to "spring open" in an accident if the doors were locked. i mean, if you hit hard enough, i don't know if the lock would matter.