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Safety Precautions to Take While Driving This Summer

an image of a road in the desert

Many might think the main dangers of driving come during the winter, or wetter, months and this is when safety precautions need to be taken. However, all seasons pose different risks to road users and it could save lives to be clued in to the appropriate procedures for driving during summer. Ken’s Autos details the advised safety precautions for summer driving below:

Vehicle

The heat of the summer can cause tyres to expand, which could accentuate pre-existing damage and lead to blowouts. To prevent this, it is important to ensure your tyres are of the right pressure and are not showing any signs of damage.

Naturally, the summer months are warm and can often cause engines to overheat due to the higher temperatures aggravating cooling issues. Ensuring your car has access to plenty of fresh coolant is imperative and it’s important to check cooling systems are operating smoothly. This may include clearing radiators and checking your drive belt.

Glare is dangerous and can cause serious issues on roads, especially in the early mornings and late evenings of the summer. Keep your windscreen clean and replace old or damaged windscreen wipers to aid this. It’s also worth keeping a pair of sunglasses in your car.

Driver

Long summer days can be deceiving. Make sure you’re well-rested when driving, take 15-minute naps and drink coffee when necessary. It’s best to plan your journey to include regular breaks of 20 minutes every 3 hours. Many people dislike having to take the proper safety precautions when it comes to sleep, but driving when tired can be as dangerous as drunk driving.

Hayfever is a frustrating issue to face when driving in the summer. If it is exceedingly bad, it’s best to have someone else drive. Otherwise; close windows, don’t take any medicine that could cause drowsiness, clear pollen filter and take care. At 70 mph, a car can travel 100m during the time it takes to sneeze…

Environment

Summer road repairs are common. It’s best to stick to the speed limit when you see loose chipping signs in order to prevent damage to your vehicle.

With the summer heat, and it’s dryness, also brings the potential for summer storms. Of which, these can bring slippery road surfaces. It can take up to 30 minutes to wash away the mud and other substances that build upon the road, which can make for a treacherous surface during the initial downpour.

There are myriad safety precautions to consider in regards to driving during the summer. It’s important to take care and consider actions and preventions for the aforementioned, among others.

If you are having trouble with your car this summer, we’d be happy to help. Call us today on 01883 622 069 or fill out our contact form.