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°C, 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°C or higher.
If the windows were closed, the thermometer climbed to 38°C within 10 minutes; after 20 minutes, it hit 45°C. In a car with two slightly rolled down windows, the temperatures hit 36°C and 42°C after the same amounts of time. Both cars were a simmering 50°C after one hour in the blazing sun.
No difference was found whether the car was painted white or black. – dpa
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