Driving a Hot Car Can Be As Dangerous As Drink Driving

Shocking new research from Seat has shown just how much of a risk driving in a hot car can be.

According to the Spanish manufacturer's findings, driving a car with an internal temperature of 35°C caused reaction times to suffer in much the same way as a blood alcohol level of 0.05% - the legal limit in countries such as Scotland.

The issue is dehydration, and a sweltering vehicle with an increased cabin temperature of 10°C can cause reaction times to drop by as much as 20%. It's a dangerous decrease in driving ability, but one that can be countered with the use of windows and air conditioning.

Battling dehydration is not as simple as quickly putting on the air con and setting off however, and often this simple mistake can exacerbate the situation. You need to let the hot air escape the vehicle first, by opening a door or window, to really get the benefit of air conditioning.

You should also make sure not to rely too heavily on your car's air recirculation function either, as a car full of stale air (instead of fresh, clean air) is also bad for you. It can also cause windows to mist up surprisingly quickly as the temperature rises, seriously affecting visibility.

Another useful tip to keep in mind when using your air conditioning is to point the jets and fans towards the ceiling. While it may be tempting to direct the cold blast straight onto a hot, flushed face, it is actually better to allow the air to circulate, cooling the entirety of the car much more efficiently.

Finally, make sure that you change your air filter regularly. You should replace it every 10,000 to 15,000 miles as they clog easily.

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