Editing Power window (section)

== Safety ==
Power windows have come under some scrutiny after several fatal accidents in which children's necks have become trapped, leading to suffocation. Some designs place the switch in a location on a hand rest where it can be accidentally triggered by a child climbing to place his or her head out of the window. To prevent this, many vehicles feature a driver-controlled lockout switch, preventing rear-seat passengers (usually smaller children) from accidentally triggering the switches. This also prevents children from playing with them and pets riding with their heads out windows from activating the power window switch. 

A power window lockout switch is a popular convenience that allows the driver to prevent passengers, usually children, from using the windows. Many cars have a feature called "courtesy power on" which allows the windows to remain operational for a brief period after the key is taken out of the ignition, so that adjustments can be made without putting the key back in. Additionally, some vehicles offer the option to operate the windows from outside the car using a remote.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wikimotors.org/what-is-a-power-window.htm | title=What is a Power Window? (With picture) | date=6 June 2023 }}</ref>

Starting with the 2008 model year, U.S. government regulations required automakers to install safety mechanisms to improve child safety.<ref>{{cite web |title=Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/09/01/E9-21042/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards-power-operated-window-partition-and-roof-panel-systems |website=Federal Register |date=September 2009 |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> However, the rules do not prevent all potential injuries to a hand, finger, or even a child's head, if someone deliberately holds the switch when the window is closing. In 2009, the U.S. auto safety administration tentatively decided against requiring all cars to have automatic reversing power windows if they sense an obstruction while closing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kroll |first=Kathryn |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |title=Safety agency: Reversible auto windows unnecessary |url=http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/08/safety_agency_says_reversible.html |date=28 August 2009 |access-date=26 December 2012 }}</ref> Proposed requirements concern automatic ("one-touch up") window systems, but most vehicles with this feature already have automatic-reversing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/rulings/safety_switch/SaferSwitchesFinalRule.html |title=Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems |publisher=National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |access-date=5 July 2010 |archive-date=27 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527214518/http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/rulings/safety_switch/SaferSwitchesFinalRule.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The federal government made a written contract that all automakers should make the lever switches (as opposed to the rocker and toggle switches) standard on all new vehicles by 1 October 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/power_windows.html |title=Q&As: Power windows and child safety |publisher=Insurance Institute for Highway Safety |date=November 2009 |access-date=5 July 2010 |archive-date=7 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407224632/http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/power_windows.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>