Windows up when taking off on a airplane?

Question

Just got home from having to fly some where. I have noticed more and more as I fly that we are all told over the loud speaker
"People that are sitting next to windows PLEASE lift up the window blind while we leave". Does anyone know the reason for this? I know what a strange little question. . . lol. But dang it, I just can't seem to figure it out, and no one else I have asks seems to know either.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and if you know the answer to this THANK YOU THANK YOU for making my head a little less dizzy! lol
Aloha oe

Answer 1

The first answer is somewhat correct. You are asked to leave the shades up in case of an accident as it allows your eyes to be acclimated to the light outside.

Have you noticed that during the day the lights are turned on during takeoff and landing and at night they're turned off? Your eyes take on average 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness. By dimming the lights at night, your eyes can adjust to the darkness allowing you to evacuate faster in case of an emergency. It also takes some time for your eyes to adjust from darkness to bright light, but not as long as it takes to adjust to darkness.

Answer 2

Never heard of such a thing. But the first answer you got sort of makes sense. But not total sense.

Flying is safer than driving, yet when a plane crashes, most people die. I can't think that having the shades up would make that much of a difference to the numbers.

Contact the individual airlines to find out the REAL policies and the reasons behind them.

Answer 3

In the event of an accident, and tipping over, having a visual reference to outside will help to re-orient the passengers, especially if there is smoke or fire inside. Also rescuers need to be able to see IN the plane to see whare people are to rescue

Answer 4

I would assume that in-case of an accident, either you or the flight crew can see what is going on outside, ie, fire, airplane damage. Also if their is a safe route for evacuation.