Collaborative Post¦ Everybody knows that driving in the winter can be incredibly dangerous. When the roads are wet and icy, it’s much easier for you to have an accident and lose control of the car. But people don’t always realize that driving in the hot weather brings its own dangers with it too. This can be a big issue because it means that people get complacent when driving during the summer and they increase the risk of accidents. So, before you get behind the wheel this summer, make sure you read these important safety tips for driving in hot weather.
Good visibility is essential when you are driving and anything that impairs your vision is a big danger. Unfortunately, the sun will be shining directly in your eyes a lot of the time when you are driving, so you need to be prepared. Use your overhead sun visors to block the sun, but also invest in a good quality pair of sunglasses with polarised lenses to improve your visibility. The impact of a dirty windscreen is amplified by the bright sun too, so make sure your windscreen wipers are working properly and keep the fluid topped up at all times.
In the summer, when the weather is warm, tyre blowouts are far more common. Any existing damage to the tyres gets worse because of the heat, especially if they are underinflated, and this causes them to rupture. This is incredibly dangerous if your tyre blows at high speeds, so it’s vital to have professional tyre services check your wheels on a regular basis and replace tyres if they are too worn down. Make sure that you inflate your tyres every few weeks too because underinflated tyres are more likely to blow out.
If you are overheated and dehydrated, it can have a big impact on your concentration levels and put you at risk, so you need to take steps to beat the heat. People don’t tend to think of air conditioning as a safety feature in cars but in this instance, it is. Your air conditioning can keep you cool and help maintain your concentration, so make sure you use it. Bring plenty of water too because, even if you are only planning a short journey, there is always the chance that you will get stuck in traffic.
Allergies can be a big problem when driving because sneezing while going 70mph puts you in a very dangerous position. Taking allergy medication can help you manage the symptoms, but it can also cause more problems. Many allergy medications have side effects like drowsiness, which is obviously very bad if you are driving. So, be careful with medication and choose non-drowsy options, especially if you are driving shortly after taking it.
Driving in hot weather can be just as dangerous as driving in wet weather, so make sure that you follow these safety tips.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.
