Driving in Summer

Hot weather can cause dangers on the roads. We have probably all seen roadside grass fires causing thick white smoke to blow across onto roads leading to poor viability.

Extreme heat also melts tarmac leading to skidding. The road surface becomes slick and will come away in a layer that sticks to the tyres rather than the road layer below. This is particularly marked on the joining strips around fresh tarmac.

However the biggest problem we encounter is overheating of both the car and occupants.

 

Make sure you have sufficient coolant in the car's engine.

If your car overheats and you end up on the hard shoulder during a heat wave you will find the air con may stop working.

What happens when we dehydrate?

The human body needs lots of water to work properly. The minimum is about equal to one litre per day. However in summer car journeys we may need two or three times this ammount. When we get moderately dehydrated tiredness can hit us very quickly and we all know that tiredness behind the wheel kills.

You really should carry enough bottled water to keep all the occupants of your car happy for hours. A few snacks are another good idea, but avoid the salty ones which only make you thirsty again.