Every morning, you get ready to take your car to go to your place of work or do your daily activities. However, before starting your vehicle, keep in mind that it is recommended to touch the hood; this gesture would save a life. We explain why.
Tapping on the hood of the car before starting can prevent drama. This gesture allows you to check that there is nothing suspicious and above all to save an innocent life.
Why do you have to touch the hood before starting your car?
Leaving home, you rush to start your car and hit the road so as not to be late for your destination. However, your vehicle may have some surprises in store for you.

Hit the hood of the car. source: spm
-
Hitting the hood of your car could save a life in winter
Every year, we hear about poor cats getting stuck under the hoods of vehicles. Unfortunately, not everyone emerges unscathed. And for good reason, our inattention. Once a car engine starts, things can quickly take a turn for the worse for a feline lurking inside. The strong vibrations and sudden buzz it emits can startle a stowaway cat, causing it to jump or fall into the fan or belt. At this point, there is no going back, the results are usually disastrous for the poor animal, which suffers trauma, lacerations and sometimes loses its life. This is why all motorists must remain vigilant to avoid these types of situations. Indeed, The Kentucky Humane Society, recommends that drivers check the hood of their car before starting the engine. To do this, just tap on the hood. Actually, it is a simple gesture that does not require much effort and only takes a few minutes, but it will have a considerable impact on your morning and will allow you to save the life of an animal that was only looking for shelter from the cold.

Cat trapped in a car engine. source: spm
In fact, in winter, when temperatures are low, stray cats take refuge under the hood of cars to protect themselves from the cold. They are attracted by the residual heat given off by the engines of our vehicles. The question now is how to discourage them from hiding there.
In addition to hitting the hood, here are some tips to keep cats out of your vehicle:
- If possible, park your car in a closed garage.
- Sprinkle cayenne pepper on the ground around your car. It may take a few days to kick in, but this trick is effective at scaring away cats.
- If you have time, do a quick inspection by opening the hood of your car to see if there are any kittens hiding inside.
- Another method is to honk and wait a few seconds before starting. The loud sound should scare them.

Inspect the hood before starting the car. source: spm
From now on, before starting your car in cold weather, get in the habit of tapping on the hood and honking the horn a few times to scare a cat away and dislodge a cat that might be sleeping there.
read also What happens when you close the lid of your laptop without turning it off. few people know