3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Wear a Mask While Driving

3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Wear a Mask While Driving.

Breathe Easier Inside Your Car With Balamaca Cabin Air Filters.

As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic our daily lives have changed, how we protect ourselves in various environments has also changed and we have to protect ourselves and our families by wearing masks, sanitizing often and social distancing. One of the environments that we can also improve is the inside of our motor vehicles when we use it to perform our daily tasks like grocery shopping. Should you be wearing a face mask as you drive?

The air coming into your vehicle through the air conditioning vents go through a filter to remove impurities and toxins from the outside air. It is similar to a protective mask for your car’s air conditioner. A cabin air filter cleans the outside air before it passes the through the air conditioning unit into your car, removing particles as small as 5 micron (0.005mm to 0.010mm), not dissimilar to wearing a cloth mask.

The filter itself will not filter out the COVID-19 virus particles which are up to 10 times smaller than those captured by the cabin air filter, however research has shown that the COVID-19 particles are most commonly transmitted in liquid droplets expelled during coughing or sneezing. The liquid carrying the virus is significantly larger, making the likelihood of it being trapped by the cabin air filter much higher.

In any event, replacing your cabin air filter is a good way of protecting your respiratory health by filtering out dirt, dust, microbes and allergens that may cause irritability to the nasal passages, throat and lungs and even assist in preventing the symptoms of asthma, emphysema or Covid-19.

Most Balamaca cabin air filters are manufactured to ensure improved air quality inside your car and when replaced at the correct intervals will reduce the amount of allergens and contaminants inside the motor vehicle cabin. And while the cabin air filter is not considered essential protective gear, such as a face mask, it will provide a further level of protection to you and your family.

It is essential therefore to replace your cabin air filter regularly to keep the cabin of your car a safe space for you and your family. Cabin air filters should be replaced every 15000km’s or once a year.

3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Wear a Mask While Driving.

#1 – It can easily obstruct your view.
The last thing you want is for your mask to move around while you’re driving and obstruct your view of the road. Not all masks are created equal, and not all masks fit every face properly. It’s for these reasons that people are constantly fiddling with their masks to ensure a comfortable and effective fit.

#2 – It can cause a distraction.
If you turn your head to look in your blind spot before changing lanes, it’s possible for your mask to move around on your face. To that point, face masks are often uncomfortable and can pull on your facial hairs. Issues with your mask can cause distractions, which can lead to accidents.

#3 – It can fog up your glasses.
Even if you don’t wear prescription glasses, many people wear sunglasses while driving. It’s common for people to have improperly fitted masks or masks with no adjustable nose bridge, which can cause your breath to rise through the only opening, which can fog up your glasses. Such a visual distraction is not only bothersome, it can also cause a serious accident.

Wear a Mask When it’s Appropriate
While it is very important to wear a mask when you’re in a public setting, if you’re driving alone or with people in your household, it’s not necessary to wear a mask in the car. After all, the leading reason for wearing a mask is to protect yourself and those around you from the transmission of COVID-19, which isn’t possible if you’re alone in your car or with members of your own home. Wearing a mask while driving isn’t necessary and can actually be more harmful than it is good.