Revealing The Truth in Utah About This Dangerous AC Setting That Can Make You Crash

Driving during the summer with the air conditioning on can lead to high levels of CO2 in the car and drowsy driving. The recirculation button that cools the air inside the car also doesn’t allow as much fresh air into the enclosed vehicle. 

CO2 Levels in Vehicles Can Build Up Surprisingly Fast 

The World Health Organization recommends that CO2 levels should be kept below 1000 ppm. In a study from Sweden, they found that four people in a car could reach this level in just a minute and a half. That is with the car turned off and the windows up. 

With the vehicle running and four people in it, the CO2 levels reached double the recommended amount in 20 minutes. At these levels a driver soon becomes drowsy, which is the cause of multiple car accidents every year. 

Recirculated Air in a Vehicle Will Increase CO2 Levels 

I drove 9 hours from Idaho recently and I went through a bag of sunflower seeds trying to stay alert. It turns out that having the AC on with the air recirculating through the cabin might have been a big part of the problem. 

On many cars when you put the AC on the max setting it also turns on the cabin recirculation button. This helps cool the air quickly, but it also brings in far less outside air. Before long the CO2 inside the car can rise. 

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This problem has been recognized by car manufacturers, and they have begun to put sensors in the vehicle that will bring in fresh air if the CO2 gets to a certain point. 

If you don’t have a newer car with this feature, rolling down a window will bring in fresh air fast. It would also be good to only use the recirculation button to cool down the vehicle and then click it off especially on long drives.