British summers are notoriously unreliable, lurching from Mediterranean heat to autumnal cool from one day to the next. This means that it is easy to be unprepared for soaring temperatures, which could put you, and your passengers, at risk. Read on for our top tips for driving safely in hotter temperatures – at home, or abroad.
1. Plan Ahead – Driving in hot temperatures can be tiring – sun glare and heat can take its toll on even the most experienced driver. If you are planning a long journey, plan your route and factor in rest stops. If possible, try to avoid driving at the hottest times of day (12 noon – 2 p.m.) to avoid you, and your vehicle, from overheating.
2. Wear sunglasses – Sunglasses will help you to see in the dazzling sunlight and protect your eyes from sun damage. Make sure your sunglasses have a UV filter, and that they are appropriate for driving; dark sunglasses may look good, but are not suitable for safe driving. Tinted lenses will be labelled with their filter category. For driving, you should look for filter category two sunglasses, which transmit between 18% and 43% of light. Glasses labelled filter category four should not be used for driving – by law, they should be labelled as unsuitable for drivers. If you wear prescription sunglasses, make sure you carry a pair of normal glasses, too – it is illegal to drive at night in sunglasses.
3. Water – It is important to stay hydrated while you are driving, so make sure you take plenty of water, even on shorter journeys. If you have passengers (children, pets) have spare water for them, too. Don’t store bottles of water in your vehicle “just in case” (unless it is to top up your radiator or windscreen fluid) – pack fresh every time you drive.
4. Parking – Where possible, park your car in a shady spot, out of direct sunlight, to avoid the car overheating and the trauma of getting back into a roasting car! If you leave your windows open a fraction when parked, make sure your motion sensor alarm is switched off.
5. Clothing and footwear – It goes without saying that you should dress comfortably and sensibly to drive. In the UK, it is not illegal to drive in flipflops, or even barefooted, however, if you are involved in a collision as a result of your footwear, you could be held responsible. Loose flipflops and sandals can fall off when driving, or get stuck under pedals, making it impossible for you to control your vehicle – if in doubt, carry a spare pare of “driving shoes” to stay safe.
6. Passengers – Invest in sun screens for rear side windows to protect children from UV rays and never – ever – leave children or animals in a car in the summer, even for a few minutes.
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