Coronavirus: This could be the most dangerous car behaviour amid COVID-19
Travel in a car often? Take notes
With normalcy starting to resume, travelling in a car is one of the safest ways to commute from one place to another in the pandemic.
Since car rides are availed by a single person, or usually shared by known contacts, car travelling is usually considered to be a safe activity during COVID-19. Experts also recommend that wearing a mask while travelling could make your ride safer.
However, there's one thing which could substantially increase your risk factor for COVID transmission.
In fact, indulging in this risky activity could be even more dangerous than not wearing a mask in the car. Wondering what it could be?
Do not close your windows while driving
Any activity outside your house could be a potential COVID-19 exposure activity.
A new study suggests that people who drive with their windows all rolled up, while travelling by other people in the car may be exposing themselves to greater COVID risk and transmission. We tell you how this could happen.
Here's why
A study conducted by a team of researchers from Brown University, which has also been published in the Science Advances Journal found that the highest COVID-19 transmission risk existed for those who travelled by all of their windows closed in the car.
The study was conducted using computer models which worked to stimulate airflow circulation inside a car model and trying out various window closed-open combinations during car travel.
What happens when you roll down the car windows
A respiratory germ like SARS-COV-2 can stay suspended in the air and easily transmit by the means of aerosol transmission.
While rolling up all the windows may seem convenient and on the contrary, safe to some, opening up car windows could let some airflow escape from the car and increase the number of air changes through the car, possibly reducing the number of viral particles lingering in the vehicle, when exposed to a possible contagion.
The place you sit at also matters
According to the study, the place where a person sits in a car can be a factor for COVID transmission risk as well.
Research models suggest that if a car has two people sitting inside- one driving, and one at the back (on the opposite side of the driver's seat), it would make for the maximum distance which could restrict COVID spread. People sitting right next to the driver, or at the back have a possibly higher risk of catching COVID-19 if any exposure is to happen.
Apart from this, studies have also indicated that the air inside a car usually enters through the back windows and exits out of the front, since the air pressure near the back generally tends to be at the higher side, which again, may have a say in determining your COVID risk inside a car.
For passengers hitching a ride, sitting in the back seat of the car would be the safest and the most ideal.
This is also a factor to consider when one is sharing car rides, or opting to travel in a cab during the current times.
Should you absolutely open the windows?
Rolling down all windows, and have all passengers wear a mask is ideally the safest way to travel.
However, it may not be the most suitable, especially if a person lives in a cold, polluted area, or suffers from allergies which could make them experience difficulties.
Hence, for the times when a complete roll-down can't be availed, passengers should try keeping at least one (or two) windows open. Even slightly opening the windows, 2-3 inches and letting fresh air it could lessen the risk of infection while travelling.
What other precautionary steps can people take to travel safely?
COVID or no COVID, your car can be one of the germiest places you might be touching or using.
Do remember that indoor, confined spaces with bad ventilation make for a COVID hotspot. The same risk exists inside a car too.
Therefore, a cautionary tip of advice would be to regularly disinfect the vehicle and clean the vents out, which could be a sneaky little place for germs and viruses to breed in.
Social distancing norms should be followed, especially if you are travelling with someone outside your bubble. Sharing a car is not really advised during the pandemic.