Image: MasterDrive
While most modern cars don’t require a few minutes of idling to warm the motor, it isn’t the worst idea to let things get up to temperature before proceeding with your day during winter. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when getting going on chilly mornings.
Image: MasterDrive
The focus of the discussion today isn’t centred around the benefits and detriments of warming a car during winter but rather the risks that are involved when doing so. Eugene Herbert, CEO of MasterDrive states that “In 2019 in the UK over 84 000 cars were stolen and 11% of these were due to the driver leaving the keys in the car. In the UK, in particular, the reason this is done is to warm up vehicles in winter.”
While these are two different societies, there are opportune criminals on the prowl here who would equally jump at the opportunity of an unattended car during its warming up routine.
Herbert further adds: “If you do warm up your vehicle in the morning, there are safer ways to do it than leaving your car running in your driveway or outside your flat. It is important not to be lulled into complacency by the potential safety of your yard or of having people around. Furthermore, most insurance providers will not cover theft of a vehicle where the keys have been left in the ignition and the driver is not present.”
That being said, sitting idly by in the driver’s seat while your car warms up if you are on a public road means you are equally as much a target to hijackers. Be cognizant of your surroundings rather than immersing yourself in your cellphone or infotainment display.
It doesn’t hurt allowing the engine oil and coolant to circulate for a few minutes before driving the car to its potential during winter but Herbert adds that there are better alternatives to leaving an unattended car in a driveway or being a sitting duck in the driver’s seat. “Starting your car and driving slowly for the first kilometres is a much more efficient way to warm up the vehicle. It uses less fuel and, as mentioned, carries a much lower safety risk than leaving your car to idle unattended.”
Keyword: Safety tips on warming up a car before driving off during winter