Winter time
ADAC warns: This is why you should never wear your winter jacket in the car
A parked car turns into a refrigerator in winter. Of course you want to ride in it with a warm jacket. But this is something that needs to be avoided, say experts.
Thick jackets are popular in the winter – not always just outside. Cars that are parked in the open air turn into iceboxes when temperatures are low and below zero.
However, he has now found out in accident tests that anyone who wears a jacket in the car is exposing themselves to a danger that should not be underestimated. The club writes: “Anyone who gets behind the wheel with a thick winter coat or down jacket not only limits their mobility at the steering wheel, but also endangers their safety because the belt does not fit optimally.”
Anyone who brakes in a car wearing a thick jacket risks serious injuries
To prove this, the traffic club subjected crash test dummies wearing thickly padded winter clothing to various accident simulations. The braking took place at 16 km/h – a typical speed for rear-end collisions in city traffic, according to the experts.
Conclusion: Deep cuts in the abdomen were found in both the children’s dolls and the adult dummies after the impact. According to the ADAC, this could lead to serious injuries to the soft tissues.
The reason is even understandable – you just don’t think about it in everyday life. The experts explain that the thick padding of the winter clothing means that the seat belts have too much room for the body. And that’s not all: In particularly unfavorable cases, the driver pushes the transverse belt strap over the abdominal area. This is usually located on the hip bones in adults and on the thighs in children, provided they are strapped in correctly.
Now there may be situations in which the car is simply too cold and doesn’t quickly get warm enough to take off the thick clothing. The ADAC then recommends lifting the jacket and guiding the belt over the trousers – or opening the jacket. For children, a blanket can help with this. This should of course be thrown over the belt.
Hats, scarves, boots and gloves should be removed
The club is also extending the warning to boots, hats and scarves. While thick winter shoes make it difficult to get the right feel for the pedals, experts say scarves and hats can hinder your view. It goes without saying why you shouldn’t drive with lined gloves or even mittens – but the ADAC warns that the accessories can impair your firm grip on the steering wheel.
Source: Stern
I’m a recent graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism. I started working as a news reporter for 24 Hours World about two years ago, and I’ve been writing articles ever since. My main focus is automotive news, but I’ve also written about politics, lifestyle, and entertainment.
