Okay, so summer’s officially here and if you’re anything like us you’re itching to get away for a nice weekend.
Despite how much fun summer is, the combination of heat, long trips and heavy loads can place enormous demands on your car.
So, before you pull out of the driveway, we’d like to suggest that you make sure that Old Faithful is ready for a long, and hopefully hot trip.
Have a read of our top tips for summer driving and, fingers crossed, we’re sure that you and your motor will have no problems on the road this summer.
It’s not just the summer you should be checking your engine oil; it’s an essential part of car maintenance no matter what time of year it is.
However, it’s even more important in summer when your car is under more strain than usual.
It should come as no surprise that your engine will get extremely hot in warm weather, especially if you’re stuck in standstill traffic.
Tyres are one of the first parts of your car to be impacted by hot weather, with tyre blowouts a common occurrence in hotter weather.
According to the AA, tyres with existing damage that are underinflated will become even more aggravated in higher temperatures, which increases the likelihood of blowouts and punctures.
It’s extremely important to keep your tyre pressure at the optimum level for summer driving
Did you know that a hot summer can be worse for your car battery than a cold winter?
High temperatures and longer journeys can put your battery through its paces, particularly if you’re charging phones, tablets and other electronics while travelling.
While many of us top up our oil, coolant and windscreen wash before going on a long journey, few of us consider our own fluid levels.
Driving in a stuffy car on a hot summer’s day can cause you to lose significant amounts of water and become dehydrated.
Being dehydrated affects your concentration levels and coordination. It’s actually been revealed that driving dehydrated can have a similar impact on your driving as if you were under the effects of alcohol.
The majority of UK drivers don’t know the symptoms of dehydration. These include:
Around 10 million people in England alone suffer from hay fever, and whilst that number seems high, hay fever has actually caused over 2 million crashes.
This comes as no surprise when you think if you’re sneezing on a 70mph road you’ll have lost your vision for as much as 100 meters!
So, while hay fever tablets are helping many sufferers get on with life, you might want to check your meds as some tablets can have some side effects that would impair your ability to drive.
Driving can be hard on your eyes, period.
But during summer months, when the sun’s out in full force, there’s also an increased amount of sun glare coming off the road and other vehicles, giving your eyes that extra level of strain.
This is particularly dangerous during the early morning and late evening, so invest in a good pair of polarized sunglasses. They’ll help protect your eyes from fatigue and damage, cut down on glare and make it easier to see the road and what’s around it clearly.
Other than the beach we can’t think of anywhere better to head to than a nice beer garden when the suns out.
In fact, let’s face it anywhere outside away from work is the place we all want to be when it’s sunny, no matter how much you love your job.
As a result, drink driving becomes a major problem each summer and with the number of drink driving related deaths currently at an eight-year high, it’s likely cops will carry out even more tests over summer.
Well there you have it, our top tips on how to stay safe on the roads this summer. For more tips on driving why not head over to our Driving Tips section on our blog, it’s got everything you need to help you become a better, safer driver.
1 Comment
Good information for busy driver super remaind before any long trip.