--- title: "PSA: Hot Cars Can Become Deadly Quicker Than You Might Think" description: "With the unprecedented heat waves across the world, hot cars can become deadly quicker than you might think." date: "2022-07-19" modified: "2022-07-19" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/psa-hot-cars-can-become-deadly-quicker-than-you-might-think" categories: - "Culture" - "News" --- # PSA: Hot Cars Can Become Deadly Quicker Than You Might Think ![]() As dangerous, unprecedented heat waves hit some parts of the United States and much of Europe, record-high temperatures can be deadly for children, pets, or even adults. Certain parts of Spain have hit highs up to 114 degrees Fahrenheit, which can be fatal. Especially inside cars, where cabin temperatures can quickly kill almost anything inside. Cars are like greenhouses, quickly absorbing the sun’s rays and turning into four-wheeled ovens. When left in the sun, a car’s interior temperature can rise 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. Even on a relatively cool day, around 70 degrees ambient temperature, the sun can heat a car cabin to well over 100 degrees. So when ambient temperatures are already over 100 degrees, car cabins can become lethal. According to The [Mayo Clinic](), a person will suffer heat stroke if their internal body temperature reaches 104 degrees, and prolonged heat stroke can cause permanent organ damage and even death. Young children and people over 65 years old are even more susceptible to heat stroke, as their nervous systems may be compromised. Dozens of children die in the United States yearly from heat stroke from being left in hot cars. In 2019, a record 53 children died. ![]() *Photo | Getty Images* In places like Texas and Arizona, many people are accustomed to extreme heat in the summer and know how to handle it. However, in many parts of Europe, such as the UK, 100-degree-plus temperatures are rare, and people might not realize just how dangerous the cabin of a car can become. Thankfully, you can do a few things to keep your passengers safe. For starters, under no circumstances can you leave any person or pet in your car without air conditioning and the windows up, especially a child or older adult. If you absolutely must leave a kid or a pet in the car for a few minutes, leave the car running with the A/C on or at least leave the windows open. It only takes a few minutes for the car to reach dangerous temperatures. You can also reduce the amount of sun that gets in your car. You can [tint your windows](), buy sunshades for your windshield and rear window, and try to park in the shade. If you can, try to keep the windows down, to let the hot air inside the car escape. Make sure your air conditioning works, too. In older cars, A/C systems can often fail, but it’s well worth the cost of repairing them because car cabins can get dangerously hot even while driving. Even with the windows down, in the extreme temperatures that much of the world is facing, it can become incredibly uncomfortable for younger and older passengers without air conditioning. Heat stroke is not something to take lightly, and with the record-high temperatures many parts of the world are seeing, it's far easier to get than many people think. Stay safe out there, and don't cook your passengers. *Got a tip? Send it in to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()