Bulky is out (and unsafe): Please unzip your winter jacket in the car
Choosing the right clothing to wear in the car when it's cold out is crucial, especially when it comes to the safety of children.
A crash test carried out by German motoring organization ADAC using an adult dummy and a toddler dummy showed why wearing thick winter jackets should be avoided.
In the test, which simulated a rear-end collision in city traffic, both the adult's lap belt and the child seat's belt cut deep into the abdominal cavity.
According to ADAC, in the worst case, this can lead to serious injuries to the internal organs, such as injuries to the intestines, liver or spleen, and even cause life-threatening internal bleeding.
If you wear bulky winter clothing, the seat belt does not fit as tightly to the body instead sitting over the lower abdominal area. That creates an additional risk of injury even with normal braking, ADAC says.
The experts therefore recommend always taking off your winter jacket when on the road, allowing the seat belt to fit snugly around the hips of adults and the thighs of children.
If it's too cold without a jacket, it should at least be unzipped or worn above the belt.
In addition to winter jackets, drivers should avoid wearing hats, scarves, and lined gloves. These can restrict freedom of movement and obstruct visibility while driving. Lined gloves also don't always provide sufficient grip on the steering wheel.
Bulky winter boots can also make it difficult to operate the pedals precisely. Wearing suitable footwear when driving is important not only to prevent accidents but to avoid possible complications with your insurance in case of a crash.
