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Andrius Žiukelis, head of the insurance company’s BTA Experience Department, says that temperature is one of the most important factors determining driving conditions, so it’s no wonder drivers pay close attention to it.
“Temperature is indeed a critical milestone. All the more so because after the current transition period and the really warm air that accompanies it, an inevitable royal autumn regime awaits us with frost, cold, rainfall. The limit of 0 degrees Celsius is critical, it means the real probability of ice, frost. Errors occur in the fixed and displayed temperatures of the car, especially during the warm season. At that point, the extra degrees contribute due to the hot road surface, but when the weather cools down, the car’s thermometer can also be misleading, so you shouldn’t trust it blindly, “he says.
Problems with the car thermometer
First of all, cars are not equipped with thermometers, but with thermistors. Thermometers are generally filled with a liquid that expands as the temperature rises and contracts as it falls, and thermistors record their changes based on the change in electrical current.
One of the main reasons for the inaccuracy of the temperature displayed by the car is considered to be the location of the measuring device next to the front bumper grille. In this way, the sensor is relatively close to the ground, so even the type of road or parking surface can affect its fixed temperature.
“Asphalt absorbs more sunlight and heats up more than, for example, grass. So on a clearer day, the driver may see a higher temperature in the instrument compartment of a car parked on the paved surface compared to a car left on the grass. The accuracy of a car thermometer can increase in cloudy air and even higher driving speeds, but it is not possible to risk this for the safety of you and other road users ”, warns A. Žiukelis.
Higher temperature values can also be expected when the car is stationary in the sun for a longer time. These situations can be very misleading, as sunny skies and a dash seem to suggest excellent driving conditions, but the road can be slippery, covered in frost, or ice.
“I would advise you to use the temperature gauge as a guide on how the weather changes. However, the driver’s vision and other sensations when turning, braking and maneuvering must be decisive and must not be ignored or overlooked, ”says the expert.
Warmer in cities, colder on bridges
As the air temperature begins to drop in the fall, he advises following universal rules to help assess the condition of the road surface more quickly and objectively. All the more so since the air temperature is measured high above the ground and does not always predict exactly what is happening on the road. Another cause of inaccurate car thermometer readings is the vehicle’s speed and environment. In a few seconds, the car travels several hundred meters, while the environment changes: mountains, slopes and ravines really change the road. Automobile devices do not detect such sudden changes.
“Due to the dense construction and the large area covered with asphalt and other pavements, cities are a kind of warm islands, which tend to have warmer temperatures. At the same time, when driving in open areas, the temperature of the road surface can be lower and the traffic conditions more difficult. However, cities should be aware when moving away from main streets, courtyards and driveways, because in case of unfavorable driving conditions, they tend to draw the attention of road users later, ”notes A. Žiukelis .
Intense leaf fall and fall precipitation create situations no less dangerous than ice, as they are no less slippery. Another threat is invisible “black” ice, which covers the asphalt with an invisible but dangerous layer.
“We also have to take into account which places on the road are usually the coldest. These are bridges, viaducts, overpasses. However, road areas shaded by buildings or trees are also at risk because, for example, the black ice can form faster here and last longer. Driving on a good road can suddenly turn into a very bad road, so it is essential to trust in every way, choose a safe speed and constantly monitor your surroundings “, advises the expert.
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