Hello everyone, 

I got back from a week in sicily and there wes a Juke waiting for me at the car hire,instead of an Alfa I was expecting.Never mind,I took what was availiable.Overall quite a nice car to drive.For a week,anyway.

However,coming from a Mediterranean country,weather and temperature permitting,we like to drive with the window open and rest our arm on the sill whilst driving.

In the Juke it cannot be done!One has to lift her or his elbow to a redicilous angle of over 45 degrees,it is impossible.It was something I would never have thought of when purchasing a vehicle.Yet another excellent reason for being pleased with my Yeti!

Since my revellation,I have noticed the Kia Sportage is pretty much the same,probably more makes too.

On occasion I asked a couple of juke owners I know  if they were happy with their new car,and upon getting an affirmitive answer,asked them to place their elbow on the open windowsill.They were really put off the idea they couldnt,so I have stopped pointing out this flaw to Juke owners.After all,they spent a lot of money on the car and why rub it in?

Thank you Yeti,for being just right.

Edited 29 October, 201312 yr by oriki

I've never been able to drive the Yeti with the window open in the UK.

I've never been able to drive the Yeti with the window open in the UK.

You would indeed if the temperature was right.. :sun:

The Puke was designed in the UK AFAIK, and it's actually an offense here to drive with your arm resting on an open window sill, so it may not be a flaw.

The waist line has moved up on pretty much all cars over the last twenty years. In part that's for styling and part because the bonnet needs to be higher for pedestrian impact protection, so the windows move to match.

I'm not so bothered about having a window I can rest my elbow on as long as there's a suitable place on the door by the handle. I can't think of many cars where the window *would* be comfortable.

The Yeti does have relatively tall windows compared to everything that isn't Postman Pat's van, so I'm not surprised the Juke has a higher window ledge.

This is a trait of most modern cars due to safety, so surprised you haven't come across other cars that have the issue you report with the juke

The Puke was designed in the UK AFAIK, and it's actually an offense here to drive with your arm resting on an open window sill, so it may not be a flaw.

 

It is?  Under which law/act?

It is?  Under which law/act?

May be careless driving-as both hands are normally used by the "competent and careful" driver against whom we all fall to be judged. S3 RTA.

May be careless driving-as both hands are normally used by the "competent and careful" driver against whom we all fall to be judged. S3 RTA.

 Oh dear, I am committing an offence then! Well wont be the first time.  :think:

 

My father, who drove all over North Africa, Italy, France and Germany during the war, also drove thus in the UK but possibly not during the war. 

 Oh dear, I am committing an offence then! Well wont be the first time.  :think:

 

My father, who drove all over North Africa, Italy, France and Germany during the war, also drove thus in the UK but possibly not during the war. 

"Careless driving"="driving which falls below the standard to be expected of a competent careful driver". I'm afraid it is nearly universal-and I don't claim to drive to a high standard myself, I get by but the law is as I state.

There is no way resting your elbow on the window would get you convicted of Driving without Due Care...

There is no way resting your elbow on the window would get you convicted of Driving without Due Care...

Unless you either have an incident or meet an unfriendly cop. Driving with one arm lacking full ability to control your vehicle is a risk.

I can rest my elbow comfortably on the window sill and hold the steering wheel at the same time. It's good to have arms like an orang-utan.

What about resting arm on a centre arm rest....is that an offence as well?

 

Can't ever recall in over 45 years of driving, anyone ever being prosecuted for resting their arm on the window - I do it all the time when the weather permits, although my right hand is still gripping the steering wheel before you ask!

...

However,coming from a Mediterranean country,weather and temperature permitting,we like to drive with the window open and rest our arm on the sill whilst driving.

...

Is this to better enable hand signals and other gesticulations?

The Puke was designed in the UK AFAIK, and it's actually an offense here to drive with your arm resting on an open window sill, so it may not be a flaw.

I'm not aware that driving with your arm resting on the window sill whilst still holding the wheel in your right hand is an offence. Please explain what law is being infringed.

I've never been able to drive the Yeti with the window open in the UK.

 

 

You've not visited sunny Sussex yet then???  

Of course it is always illegal to drive carelessly, recklessly or dangerously, whatever the cause.  However these are offences that require evidence and proof that the standard of driving was below a given expectation.  If you are driving perfectly safely and courteously with one hand, or with an arm on the window sill, there is no offence committed.  There is certainly no "thou shalt not drive with your arm on the window" law.

 

It is the same with eating/drinking at the wheel; there is no specific offence for this but a picky copper might assume that nobody can reasonably control a car when eating - however to make it stick they would still have to present evidence of driving that was actually below the expected standard (ie swerving, poor lane control, inappropriate speed, late braking etc).

Of course it is always illegal to drive carelessly, recklessly or dangerously, whatever the cause.  However these are offences that require evidence and proof that the standard of driving was below a given expectation.  If you are driving perfectly safely and courteously with one hand, or with an arm on the window sill, there is no offence committed.  There is certainly no "thou shalt not drive with your arm on the window" law.

 

It is the same with eating/drinking at the wheel; there is no specific offence for this but a picky copper might assume that nobody can reasonably control a car when eating - however to make it stick they would still have to present evidence of driving that was actually below the expected standard (ie swerving, poor lane control, inappropriate speed, late braking etc).

Ah! Sanity has returned! Well done that man 

Of course it is always illegal to drive carelessly, recklessly or dangerously, whatever the cause.  However these are offences that require evidence and proof that the standard of driving was below a given expectation.  If you are driving perfectly safely and courteously with one hand, or with an arm on the window sill, there is no offence committed.  There is certainly no "thou shalt not drive with your arm on the window" law.

 

It is the same with eating/drinking at the wheel; there is no specific offence for this but a picky copper might assume that nobody can reasonably control a car when eating - however to make it stick they would still have to present evidence of driving that was actually below the expected standard (ie swerving, poor lane control, inappropriate speed, late braking etc).

Tho I seem to remember in the press (so it must be true) of somebody being done for not being in full control of their vehicle as they were eating a banana whilst sat stationary at the traffic lights in neutral with the hand brake on ..........