All modern cars are equipped with a thermometer that informs the driver and other occupants of the outside temperature. It is a complementary element that at first was only fitted to high-end, high-performance cars, as is the case with other accessories that have become popular over time.
Nowadays, most cars have a thermometer incorporated as standard, as do the seat belt, airbag and headrests, elements that were once optional and are currently mandatory. The latter are part of the package of passive safety accessories that equip the cars.
The car thermometer is not a mandatory accessory, but it is considered an element that provides useful information to improve the driving experience. But beyond indicating the temperature outside the cabin, the thermometer fulfills other more specific functions. It informs the car’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems of the outside temperature to automatically adjust the interior climate, ensuring greater comfort for occupants.
The sensor that measures the outside temperature shown on the car’s instrument panel is usually located in two very specific areas. The most common thing is that it is located in the front part, behind the radiator, although there are also many vehicles that have it in the lower part of one of the side mirrors.
Both locations ensure that the sensor is away from the hottest parts of the engine so that the temperature displayed by the thermometer is as reliable as possible.
However, the temperature we see on the car’s instrument panel does not accurately reflect the actual temperature. This is explained because the measurement methods used by official organizations are not the same as those used by cars.
Official temperature readings from meteorological organizations are taken inside a box with louvers that allow air to circulate around the thermometer inside while protecting it from outside elements such as rain and direct sunlight. On the other hand, the temperature recorded by the car thermometer is affected by the environment.
The heat radiated from the asphalt is the main factor that distorts the outside temperature reading. For this reason, in the warmest months of the year, especially during a heat wave, the car thermometer can show a temperature of more than 10 degrees compared to the actual temperature.
In winter, especially when temperatures approach 0 degrees, the behavior of the sensor that measures the car’s temperature is much more real and there are hardly any differences with the official temperature.
Both in the coldest months of the year and in the warmest, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) advises drivers to maintain an adequate temperature inside the vehicle to maintain concentration and attention during the trip. RACE recommends that this comfort temperature be in a range between 21 and 23 degrees, a range that ensures the well-being of the driver and the rest of the car’s occupants.
Driving with a coat, gloves or hiking boots to combat the cold in the winter months is subject to a fine before a traffic officer if he considers that these garments restrict the driver’s mobility. In this regard, article 18.1 of the General Traffic Regulations states that: “The driver of a vehicle is obliged to maintain his own freedom of movement, the necessary field of vision and constant attention to driving that guarantee his own safety, that of the driver. rest of the occupants of the vehicle and that of other road users.”
Therefore, an officer may consider that driving with a coat that is too bulky, gloves or hiking boots prevents comfortable driving and a correct reaction to unforeseen situations. In this case, the fine for committing an offense of this type can be up to 200 euros for negligent driving.