Turn on vehicle air circulation button to avoid health hazard, reminds road safety expert

SHAH ALAM - Turn on your car air circulation setting, it could save live, this is the reminder from Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) Board of Directors chairman Professor Dr Wong Shaw Voon.

He said not turning on the outside air circulation setting on a vehicle's air conditioning unit can cause the driver and passengers to feel lethargic or faint due to the lack of oxygen during a long distance driving.

"When this function is not turned on along long distance driving, especially during congestion periods like festive seasons, it can cause the oxygen levels on the vehcile to drop.

"This can pose a significant health risk to the vehicle occupants," hw told Sinar.

Wong said the outside air circulation button should always be turned on, even if it means sacrificing some cooling power or allowing unpleasant odors to enter the vehicle.

He said this is a critical safety measure that must not be ignored to prevent any unwanted situations.

The media reported on Monday that a family of four had fainted in their vehicle suspected to be due to the lack of oxygen before crashing into the Bentong Toll Plaza.

Bentong district police chief Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar said the incident occurred at 2.40pm while the victims were on their way from Tok Bali, Kelantan to Balakong, Selangor.

Wong said the victims may have failed to activate the outside air circulation function, which could have led to the incident.

"If driving short distances within 10 minutes there would no be any issues. However, if it was 10 hours it would have its own risks. For safety purposes press that button," he said.