HAMBURG: You won't always be able to park in the shade. And on those days where you have to return to a car that's punishingly hot, there are a few things you have to pay attention to.
Someone's life may depend on it.
1. Open windows first, then use the air conditioning
If you're returning to a car that's been in the sun on a hot day, fight their desire to turn the air conditioning onto the highest setting as soon as you get in.
First, air out the car by opening all the windows. Only then should you turn on the air conditioning.
Try to point the air vents away from your body in order to avoid catching a cold or drying out your eyes. If you want to avoid getting a cold, it also makes sense to keep the car's interior temperature within 8 degrees Celsius of the outside temperature.
2. Be careful where you park when near a forest
When you consider the causes of a forest fire, you probably think of someone flicking a cigarette into the woods, or perhaps of someone lighting a campfire. But did you ever consider the damage a poorly parked car can do during a drought?
If you're driving at a hot, dry time of year when there's been forest fire warnings, you'll need to pay special attention to where you park in the countryside.
That's because the exhaust systems of petrol and diesel cars can get extremely hot, even hitting temperatures of up to 500 degrees Celsius, says safety inspector expert Torsten Hesse from inspection agency TUV.
Although the exhaust system is cooled by the airstream and car manufacturers generally fit special heat protection plates onto modern vehicles, carmakers are still not able to prevent the exhaust system from overheating.
For this reason, you should never park your car on dry grass, leaves or forest soil. Once a car has caught fire, it's almost impossible to extinguish it without professional help, which can have devastating consequences. Entire fields or forests can be destroyed by fire in dry conditions.
3. Keep your windows fully closed when parked
Even on a hot and sunny day, it's always best to close your windows when leaving your car unattended.
Leaving even a small opening can be an invitation for thieves to open the vehicle and take any valuables in sight, Europe's largest automobile club, the ADAC, warns.
As such, even if you're keen to have a bit of fresh air flowing through when you return to your car, you're better off opening the doors and airing it out before driving off again.
Convertible drivers should also always close their car's roof when parking. Insurers warn that if you don't, this could lead to a loss of insurance benefits and coverage if the radio or even the whole car is stolen.
4. Never leave kids or pets alone in the car
When it's hot out, "it'll be quick" can be deadly: There's no amount of time that is safe to leave a child or pet inside a car, even if you crack the windows or are away for just a few minutes.
Temperatures inside a car can quickly hit up to 60 degrees Celsius, reports Germany's ADAC automobile association. People who leave their child or dog in a car parked in the sun are risking their lives - it doesn't matter the colour of the vehicle nor if the window's cracked.
An investigation by the ADAC using identical cars with windows opened at differing heights showed that the vehicles could still be dangerous when temperatures outside were at 28 degrees or higher.
If the windows were closed, the thermometer climbed to 38 degrees Celsius within 10 minutes; after 20 minutes, it hit 45 degrees. In a car with two slightly rolled down windows, the temperatures hit 36 and 42 degrees after the same amounts of time. Both cars were a simmering 50 degrees Celsius after one hour in the blazing sun.
No difference was found whether the car was painted white or black.
5. Don't forget any battery-powered devices
Batteries hate extreme temperatures. That's why you should never leave your smartphone or electronics in direct sunlight or inside the car for long periods, as many devices won't be able to withstand high temperatures.
Heat exposure can cause the safety mechanisms of a battery to falter and leak fluids, rendering the battery useless.
