By JENNIFER SARANOW
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
June 9, 2005; Page D6
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What Is It: Power windows are being redesigned to pinch fewer fingers as more auto makers in the U.S. adopt designs that automatically reverse if there's an obstacle in the path. The main beneficiary: Kids (or pets) who might otherwise bump the buttons and get their hands, heads or paws caught in the window. Common in Europe and Asia for more than a decade, the auto-reverse designs -- with names like "Jam Protection" and "Bounce Back" -- first showed up in the U.S. in luxury models, and now are spreading to more-mainstream models. One supplier of the mechanisms, Brose North America Inc., says its motors automatically reverse if the glass encounters the resistance it takes to dent a banana.

Cars That Have It: The 2005 Chrysler 300 was the first Chrysler Group product to feature the technology. It's also available on the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee and will come on the 2006 Jeep Commander. The front and rear windows on the 2005 Cadillac STS automatically reverse. The 2005 Ford Five Hundred and 2005 Toyota Camry Solara have the feature, but only on the driver's window.

Upside: Helps reduce the possibility that kids get injured playing with power windows. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are on average 1.5 fatalities a year related to power windows.

Downside: The technology usually is offered only on windows that open or close with just one touch on the switch (as opposed to switches you must physically hold down). These switches are often only found on front windows, as a convenience for the driver, and not in the back where children would be more likely to sit. Volvo and Chrysler Group vehicles, for instance, offer auto-reverse windows only up front.

Cost: Generally it's standard equipment, if offered at all.

Alternatives: Some cars also offer power windows that have recessed switches, which must be lifted to work, and therefore are less likely to be accidentally triggered. NHTSA is requiring all vehicles in the U.S. to have safer switches by 2008.

Bottom Line: Of course, none of this was a problem back when windows came with hand cranks. As more cars offer power windows as standard equipment, auto-reverse makes some sense.

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