Whilst I was a child it was my job to hop out of the car and open up the drive gates for my mom and dad. Such were the days before electric gates came in the marketplace and a person had to physically close and open the drive gates and fasten them with a good old-fashioned padlock. I remember having to leave the car come rain or sunshine, summertime or wintertime, for quite some time before my mum and dad had electric gates installed.
Now that I am a grown-up and a vehicle driver myself, I really value the usefulness of electric gates. Since I'm alone in the car much of the time and don't have anybody to get out the car and open the drive gateon my behalf, it's great not to be forced to do it myself. Moreover, an automatic gate-opening system is a great asset in freezing or rainy weather as you do not have to leave your car to open and close the drive gate.
Furthermore, times have changed and it is not safe to leave your car to manually open a gate. A lot of hijackings happen in close proximity to home, particularly if a car is stationary outside the drive gates. If there ever happened to be a cause to install electric gates, the threat of hijacking is it. An automatic entrance allows the motorist to stay inside the vehicle and in charge of it at all times so that, if any suspect persons approach the vehicle, the motorist can reverse it and drive off to the nearest police station.
If you do not have an automatic gate system fitted or in the event that the electric gate-opening mechanism isn't functioning for whatever reason, then you need to be very cautious when getting out of the car to open your drive gates. If you do not have a young child or toddler in the car then it is okay to get out whilst the engine is running, however if your child is present, then you should at all times stop the engine and take the ignition key along with you when you open the gate. You certainly do not want a hijacker to get into your vehicle whilst your back is turned and drive away along with your little one in the vehicle.
Having said that, no matter whether your residence possesses functioning electric gates or not, it is best to be on the lookout for suspicious-looking people loitering in your street. If you observe anybody who looks even the tiniest bit suspicious it is always better to carry on down the road without slowing down or turning into your entrance. It is not unreasonable in times such as this to inform the authorities as you could be protecting yourself, and your next door neighbours, from potential hijacking.
On the subject of departing your home, you ought to be every bit as careful when exiting your driveway. Always shut an electric gate after your car using the remote and watch for it to fully close before departing. It does not require much time to drive down the street and turn a corner, leaving the gate open for intruders to enter. Simply by hanging around for the gateway to close you can be sure that a) no one has entered your property via an open gateway and b) that the gate has, in actual fact, shut because it might malfunction and remain wide open.
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