Drivers urged not to press 'misunderstood button' in car this winter
Drivers have been urged NOT to press a "misunderstood" button in their car this winter. As temperatures plummet in the UK, any moisture in your car is likely to transform into condensation immediately, experts have warned as we head deeper into autumn.
While a steamed-up windshield is undeniably annoying, it can easily become dangerous if it begins to impair your vision, experts say. Eden Tyres & Maintenance recently told the US Times Post to avoid pressing the recirculation button, which can make matters worse.
They explained: "When it's cold outside, make sure the recirculation button is turned off. The recirculation button is best used in warm weather in conjunction with the air conditioning. In cooler weather, it doesn't have many benefits and can even be harmful.
"Your windows fog up much quicker and stay that way while you drive." The Derby-based experts claim that while you may be advised to press this button, it can actually end up doing more harm than good. They told US Times Post: “Basically when it’s cold outside, make sure the recirculation button is turned off.
“The recirculation button is best used in warm weather in conjunction with the air conditioning. In cooler weather, it doesn’t have many benefits and can even be harmful.” The experts also claim that the default ‘Fresh Air’ mode works to push air outside through your heater, which in turn can have a detrimental effect on your front screen.
“Your windows fog up much quicker and stay that way while you drive,” they explained. In more extreme cases, drivers can be fined up to £2,500 and be disqualified from getting behind the wheel. Annex six of the Highway Code outlines how drivers should maintain their vehicle, as well as how they can prioritise safety and security.
It states that motorists should take special care that lights, brakes, steering exhaust system, seat belts, demisters, wipers, washers and any audible warning systems are all working. The Highway Code adds: “Windscreens and windows must be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision.”