Vehicle Storage: 5 Items That Are Better Off Removed
In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to forget items in our cars when we rush from one destination to another. However, what we leave behind can have unexpected consequences, from damaging our belongings to posing security risks. Here's a guide to the items you should avoid leaving in your car, based on advice from various experts.
Firstly, electronics such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets are vulnerable to damage in high temperatures. Leaving these items in your car can affect their charging efficiency, shorten their battery life, and even lead to fires due to overheating lithium-ion batteries. To prevent this, it's advisable to keep electronics cool with air conditioning and take them with you when leaving the car. If electronics do get too hot, it's best to wait for them to cool down before turning them on again.
Secondly, leaving valuable electronics in the car presents an opportunity for thieves. The year ending March 2024 saw a reported 57,652 thefts from motor vehicles, an 18% increase from the previous year (Crime Statistics Victoria). This underscores the importance of keeping your car free of valuable items.
Leaving glasses or sunglasses in the car can also attract thieves, posing a security risk. Moreover, heat in a car can damage these items. Sunlight through a car's windshield focused on glasses or sunglasses can create a fire hazard, and both plastic and metal frames can warp or become too hot.
Aerosol cans, such as spray cans, should not be stored in cars due to the risk of explosion and damage to the car's interior at high temperatures. Aerosol can contents are highly flammable, and overheating can lead to dangerous situations.
Medications should also be carefully considered when deciding what to leave in your car. Heat, cold, and moisture can make medications less effective or inactive. If traveling with medication, it's best to store it in an air-conditioned compartment or wrap it in a cool, dry compress.
Lastly, sunscreen loses effectiveness when exposed to heat, making it ineffective for sun protection. It's best to keep sunscreen in a cool, dry place to ensure it works effectively when you need it.
Remember, RACV Emergency Roadside Assist is available for assistance in emergencies. This guide is based on advice from the Kfz-Gutachter AVAR (automotive expert), the ADAC (German automobile club), the police, the DEKRA expert Friedhelm Schwicker, and Priv.-Doz. Dr. Wolfgang Wesemann (an eye specialist). By following this advice, you can help keep your car safe and your belongings secure.
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