In a device for operating locks (16) on doors or hatches of vehicles, a fixed support (10) is a arranged on the door. A moving unit (20) is mounted (11, 12), such as to pivot on the support (10), belonging to which is at least one handle (21). Spring loading (25, 26) ensures the unoperated moving unit (20) is held in a flat rest position on the support (10). On operating the handle, the moving unit (20) must be pivoted against said spring loading, whereby the lock (16) is operated. A damping unit (30) ensures that the returning moving unit (20) pivoting action is decelerated. A reliable, economical damping unit (30) is obtained, whereby an elastic body (31) is arranged in at least one position on the moving unit (20) which extends outwards with a projection (32). On the return movement (39) into the rest position the extending projection (32) is deformed against a fixed counter-surface (40), whereupon the movement energy is largely dissipated. On reaching the rest position, the deformed projection (32) is supported against the counter-surface (40).