LETTER | The Grim Reaper lurks in drive-in cinemas - carbon monoxide

LETTER | Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu must have been beaming with pride when launching the country’s first drive-in cinema in Ipoh. It was a brainchild of his, as he had been to drive-in movies himself as a child in the US.

Ahmad Faizal (photo, above) thought it was timely to introduce this facility here as it would allow for social distancing. The outdoor cinema, which is located in downtown Meru, can accommodate 70 vehicles and is set to be the new crowd puller to the state, he says.

The drive-in cinema can be explored via their website. Ticket prices are RM36 for single occupancy cars, RM42 for double, and RM46 for a family of four including popcorn and soft drinks or water.

Moviegoers are to arrive 45 minutes before screen time and smaller cars will be ushered to the front so that the 6m by 18m raised screen is not blocked. A special radiofrequency will channel sounds from the movie to occupants in the car through the vehicles’ audio system.

The length of movies can vary considerably, which can range from 90 minutes to more than 120. Bollywood is known for its lengthy epics, with the longest stretching almost five hours. But their runtimes have been reduced substantially in recent years.

In any case, those gathered in front of the big outdoor screen will have to arrive early and spend more than two hours inside a parked car with engine and air-conditioning running. And this is when the Grim Reaper emerges, not in the movie but inside the car.

The Grim Reaper is a scary figure in a black cloak and razor-sharp scythe who puts fear into anyone that captures a glimpse of him. He represents death and has been depicted in ancient art, literature, and movies for many years.

All over the world, people have died sleeping in cars or couples who spend too much time in deserted areas with the engine and air-conditioning running. The silent killer, carbon monoxide, creeps into vehicles unnoticed as it is colourless and odourless.

It makes unsuspecting occupants drowsy and fall into a sleep they will never wake up from.

Danger of carbon monoxide poisoning from car exhaust fumes

The exhaust fumes from petrol engines are mainly carbon dioxide and water vapour but also contains a deadly amount of carbon monoxide. People have committed suicide by using a hose to connect the exhaust pipe into their car.

Those who drive long distances should open the windows occasionally if they do not wish to take rests in between. But opening doors or windows while watching a movie would allow mosquitoes to enter and run the risk of catching dengue fever.

In the US, the operator of a drive-in cinema has this piece of advice: We strongly recommend that you do not run your engine for long periods during the movie. Noisy car engines are bothersome to your neighbours in the next car.

Also, the advice continues, carbon monoxide is poisonous and can build up with several vehicles running in close proximity to each other.

For safety, I recommend intermissions are introduced and all occupants to be required to walk out of their cars and perhaps visit the mobile toilets.

Hopefully, more precautions will be taken seriously so everyone can enjoy more drive-in cinemas in Malaysia and stay safely apart to prevent the spread of Covid-19.