Parking advice for Mayo motorists after 'staggering' hot spell discovery
Parking a car in direct sunshine during the current heatwave could be far more dangerous than many motorists realise.
New testing by Carzone found that the interior of a parked vehicle reached a staggering 57°C after being left in direct sunlight, and also demonstrated how an everyday compact mirror left on a passenger seat can concentrate the sun's rays and scorch a dashboard or interior trim.
The findings serve as a timely reminder that, during periods of hot weather, it's not just who you leave in your car that matters, but what you leave behind.
That is hot enough to melt some everyday plastics and damage electronic devices, and it highlights just how dangerous it is to leave children or pets unattended without taking great care.
The experiment, carried out by Carzone motoring expert Conor Faughnan, showed how rapidly temperatures can rise inside a stationary vehicle, even on what many would consider a pleasant summer's day.
In a morning test, when the outside temperature was around 21°C, the interior climbed from 15°C to 34°C in just 30 minutes.
Later that afternoon, after the car had been parked in direct sunlight where the outside temperature reached 26 degrees, the internal temperature reached a staggering 57°C.
The findings come as Ireland experiences unusually high summer temperatures, prompting renewed warnings about the dangers of leaving children, pets and everyday items inside parked vehicles."
Conor Faughnan, Carzone’s independent motoring expert, said: "People naturally think about staying safe while they're driving, but during a heatwave one of the biggest dangers is often when the car is parked.
"It doesn't take long for the inside of a vehicle to become dangerously hot, particularly in direct sunshine. Our testing reached 57°C inside the car, showing just how extreme conditions can become.
“People are much more aware of the danger in other countries where hot weather is the norm. It’s unusual in Ireland and that can catch people out.”
While many people are aware of the dangers of leaving children or pets in vehicles, Carzone is also warning motorists to think carefully about everyday items left inside.
Faughnan found that something as simple as a compact mirror left on a passenger seat in direct sunlight can concentrate the sun's rays and scorch a dashboard or interior trim, similar to damage caused by a lit cigarette.
In extreme cases, concentrated sunlight reflected through items such as compact mirrors or sunglasses can generate enough heat to start a vehicle fire.
Carzone is advising motorists to:
Never leave children or pets unattended in a parked vehicle, even for a short time.
Don’t leave reflective objects such as compact mirrors in direct sunlight.
Remove temperature-sensitive items including medication, electronics and groceries where possible.
Carry drinking water on longer journeys and stay hydrated.
Consider using remote pre-conditioning to cool the cabin before setting off, while remembering it will draw power from the battery. Most EVs have this function as do many newer cars.