Hot Cars Cause Crashes:

Jumping into the car on a hot afternoon in Spain might perhaps not be the best idea, as a study published by Hella shows. According to the study, driving a car with an interior temperature of above 27 degrees increases the risk of crashing by 11%. When the inside temperature rises to above 32 degrees this risk jumps to a scary 22%.The way to reduce this risk is simply to open the windows and/or turn on the air-conditioning before you plan on using the car. Driving a vehicle when the interior temperature is elevated induces a feeling of fatigue, lowers concentration and increases the time it takes for a driver to react to a potential crash causing situation on the roads.

According to the Hella report, whilst turning air-conditioning on in a vehicle can be a solution to the heat problem it can cause other problems if it is not being properly maintained. Allergies provoked by mould and the presence of micro-organisms in the vehicle’s filters can also cause accidents. Dry, itchy or watery eyes are also not conducive to safe driving and can elevate the risk of having an accident by up to 17%. Cars’ air-conditioning systems should be regularly maintained and air filters need to be changed every 15,000kms to ensure that they remain free from dust, dirt, pollen and other irritants.