When walking to my truck, I have the bad habit of carrying my keys in my right hand. I am right-handed. I open the door with my right hand and of course turn the ignition with my right hand.

This question is for those of us who don't have "key fobs" or Bluetooth whatever or ask Alexa to start your car.

Do you give this any thought? I have to remind myself "Keys, left hand. Keys, left hand."

Well just drop your keys if you need to draw, yes? Yes, and therein lies the problem- your car keys on the ground and the problems that may arise from this.

What are your thought?

It's a good thought. On my after dark walks in a few cities in South America without a sidearm, I carried the skeleton key from my apartment in my left hand between my finders protruding as a striking weapon and my trusty Emerson CQC-7 in my right (in the folded position in a closed fist). Never had an issue...even after dark, nobody messed with me. (Safer than downtown Atlanta in daylight, in which I've had to actively avoid muggers more than a few times.)

Yes, key in the weak hand for sure to leave the other ready

It was drilled into me from the start of my law enforcement career that it's better to carry items in my left hand. After a period of constantly having to remind myself, it quickly became second nature. Just be consistent, and soon enough you won't have to think about it, you'll just do it.

In the academy in 1985 it was drilled into us to never carry anything in your gun hand. From that point I almost never carry anything in my right hand. It’s just habit.

I see someone else posted the same while I was typing.

I clip my keys to my belt the instant I am out of the car. Been a habit since I was 15 so I won't misplace my keys.

I also changed my carry methods after the academy. My plan is what ever may be in the left hand to toss it into the actors face area as a distraction and then draw my weapon.

I have thought about this and make it a point to keep my right hand free.

Keep nothing in the right hand that can't be discarded. For example, coffee cup, water bottle, etc.

Walking the dogs, use the left hand for the leash.
Head to the car, keys in the left hand.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
I clip my keys to my belt the instant I am out of the car. Been a habit since I was 15 so I won't misplace my keys.

That's what I do.

I try to make it a habit to never carry anything in my right hand. About 2 weeks ago my wife and I were at the mall. I see in the distance a person approaching random people in the parking lot. At that point I have my keys in my left hand with my thumb resting on the panic button on my key fob.
He eventually approached us looking for money then moved on to the next person in the parking lot.

Yes, I too must remind myself. It is not only car keys. Also the bag of groceries, or the auto parts you just bought....left hand, left hand, left hand.

Before both cars having keyless entry/start, keys were always in my left hand. But, I'm also left-handed, but shoot right handed.

I would suggest leaving your keys in your pocket until you get to your vehicle, have a good look around, then unlock.

Interesting. I never really thought of this being one of the advantages of the push-button start on my Tacoma- I never have to take my keys out, so my gun hand is free.

Even before I had this, I kept my keys in my left front pocket. I still do as a habit.

Not only have I obsessed about this very thing for the last couple decades, I've taken my habit to an almost ridiculous level.

Even though I'm right handed and carry strong side, I've wondered why my left bicep is more developed. It didn't make sense to me why this would be, until a realization occurred to me just last year.

I have to park my vehicle @ 80-90 yards from my front door, so while bringing in groceries or other heavy objects, with a daypack loaded down with whatever I can stash in it, + a laptop slung over my left shoulder so I can clear concealment clothing and leather on a right hand draw, my left arm has been carrying way more weight over a distance for a lotta years now.

On rare occasions I try to risk carrying weight in my right hand in an effort to balance muscle development out...but I feel so vulnerable doing this.

quote:

Originally posted by doublesharp:

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
I clip my keys to my belt the instant I am out of the car. Been a habit since I was 15 so I won't misplace my keys.

That's what I do.

Yeah, I used to do that too. My problem now is that between all the clothing I wear, the lack of a good place to clip my keys too... and in recent years I've added extra mags + a carry knife + pepper spray... so I'm running out of belt or pants real estate to which I can access everything and still have access to my keys.

I am in the process of relearning how to keep my right hand free. I'm also right handed and tend to carry things in my right hand. Probably a year ago I realized a detail like that could cost me time and coordination which makes me unnecessarily vulnerable. I still catch myself occupying my right hand when my left hand is free so I swap hands and make a mental note. I know to some it might sound crazy but it makes sense to me.

Another thing I've been doing for years is choosing my body position in public places so I can see what and who is coming from where and how we'll escape should the worst happen. I also casually watch who is around me. If I ever have to get in a line at the bank, I stand sideways. I leave space between my car and the car in front of me at intersections and drive-thru lines. I live in a peaceful, extremely low crime area. But that is not always an advantage since when one feels safe he tends to relax awareness and defense postures.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
When walking to my truck, I have the bad habit of carrying my keys in my right hand. I am right-handed. I open the door with my right hand and of course turn the ignition with my right hand.

This question is for those of us who don't have "key fobs" ...

My keys are carried clipped to a belt loop on my left. Have been for three decades or more. Thus I tend to use them left-handed. (I am right-handed, but, mildly ambidextrous.)

Old habit from the Army days. Always keep the right hand free in case you need to salute.

years ago I read a report on how 'targets' are chosen. It noted that many are chosen based on situational awareness (lack of) and the carrying of packages, purse etc. But if they had their head on a swivel and keys in hand they passed them by and looked for another.

I started thinking about myself. I never walk to my car with my phone out. And my keys in my left hand, and I try to always be looking around. I do not try to be obvious about it, and mostly it probably looks like I am checking out the various trucks and such (which I am).

Anyway, I walk with my phone put away, my keys in my left hand. Oh, and my pocket flashlight is always on my left side.

Hadn't considered it, but just reviewed how I normally get in the car.

My right hand is always free because I use it to shield the knife pocket clip on my right pant pocket as I enter the vehicle. As I get settled, I also use my right hand to move my phone from my back pocket into the cupholder.

When I have a gun, I also use my right hand to move the gun further back into the 4:00 position to avoid the seat bolster.

All in all, my right hand is free because I'm doing all sorts of shifting around as I approach the vehicle.

I've had push to start vehicles for a long time however...

It is not just my car keys. Seems I'm almost always carrying something, and being right handed I tend to carry whatever in my right hand. That is of course is not a good idea.
Rod