With Temperatures rising to 34oC tomorrow (Saturday 29th June) in London and France recording the highest ever temperature of 45.9oC, here are some of the risks associated with driving long distances in hot weather:
Keep Hydrated – On a hot day it is vitally important to keep well hydrated. Keep some bottles of water in your car and if you have a cooler box, use it to keep the water cool. Dehydration will affect your concentration levels. Although tea and coffee will keep you awake, it causes dehydration and hence do not drink too much of it while on a long journey.
Protect Your Eyes – Bright sunlight can cause havoc on visibility. Wear sunglasses and make full use of the visors. Ensure your sunglasses are polarised as they reduce glare. However, blue tinted sunglasses can cause confusion as studies have shown that some drivers are unable to differentiate between amber and green traffic lights.
Check Your Tyres – Hot weather will make the air in the tyres expand, which can cause a blow-out. Check for the damage to the tyres or uneven wear, especially on the inside shoulders and make sure the pressures are correct.
Keep Your Medication Easily Accessible – Frequent sneezing, runny eyes and congestion caused by hay fever could cause serious problems while driving. Ensure that the medication is easily accessible and is non drowsy.
Ventilation – Ensure that the conditions inside the car are comfortable on a hot day. If you have air conditioning, use it or else keep the car well ventilated to avoid drowsiness.
Top up Fluids in your Vehicle – Ensure that the windscreen wiper fluid is topped up. During summer, the windscreen is likely to be battered by flies and other insects. Your windscreen may need to be cleaned regularly and hence keep the fluid topped up. Also ensure that the radiator fluid is topped up to stop the engine overheating and check the engine oil before setting off.
Plan Ahead – When driving in hot weather it is always worthwhile planning ahead. The hot weather inevitably means more people on the road and therefore more congestion. Do you have a way to get out of it, either to bypass the traffic or take some quiet time to let the build-up subside? A plan will especially help when there are children involved.
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