Summer safety
I tend to think of driving in winter as a constant battle with rain, snow and misted windscreens. Driving in summer on the other hand, conjures up imagines of open top vintage cars with the wind in your hair and a new adventure every day.
Like most things, the reality is a little different, with summer driving throwing up just as many risks as winter driving – the difference is that we’re probably a little less prepared for them.
So let’s for the moment put aside the fact that in the UK we can get winter weather in ‘summer’ and look at the top things that you can be aware of to make your summer driving safe and sunny.
Healthy tyres
The higher temperatures that we get in summer can cause tyres which are damaged or set at the wrong pressure to blowout. So make sure that you’ve checked the condition of your tyres recently.
And remember that if you load up your vehicle to take it on a holiday somewhere, check that the pressure of the tyres suit the extra load that you are carrying.
Sun glare
This is probably one that most of us who have driven in summer have experienced - coming up the brow of a hill only to drive into direct sunlight is not a nice experience.
The best tip to combat this is to keep your windscreens really clean and make sure that your windscreen wipers are in tip top condition. I also permanently have a pair of Ray Bans perched on my head and a spare pair in the car just in case.
Hayfever bother
If you’re driving on the motorway at 70mph and sneeze, you can lose vision for up to 100m. So slow down and take it easy if you feel a sneeze coming on.
Also make sure you minimize sneezing risk by closing windows and doors in the car and regularly cleaning mats and carpets to get rid of any pollen.
It helps to have tissues to hand so that you don’t have to hunt for them and sunglasses to cope with any additional glare. And of course make sure that you have checked any medication you are taking to see if it makes you drowsy.
Slippery Roads
Remember that when it suddenly buckets down on a dry day, roads can become a major hazard. The rain mixes in with the oil and dirt on the road making conditions super slippery. So don’t go too fast and be careful!
Busier Roads
It’s not just you that wants to go for a summer drive, so do the motor bikers, the cyclists and the local farmer on his tractor. So remember these facts:
Motorcycles have complete use of the traffic lane – so you don’t think you can share their lane. You should increase your distance between yourself and the motorcyclist by four seconds or more.
And as for those tractors…
It may be tempting to whizz past a tractor and overtake them but be careful. Tractors are often a lot longer than they at first appear and their drivers may well be wearing ear protectors so they can’t hear approaching cars. Tractors also don’t have brake or indicator lights in the daytime, only in the nighttime – this means they could stop or turn suddenly without warning.
Like most things, the reality is a little different, with summer driving throwing up just as many risks as winter driving – the difference is that we’re probably a little less prepared for them.
So let’s for the moment put aside the fact that in the UK we can get winter weather in ‘summer’ and look at the top things that you can be aware of to make your summer driving safe and sunny.
Healthy tyres
The higher temperatures that we get in summer can cause tyres which are damaged or set at the wrong pressure to blowout. So make sure that you’ve checked the condition of your tyres recently.
And remember that if you load up your vehicle to take it on a holiday somewhere, check that the pressure of the tyres suit the extra load that you are carrying.
Sun glare
This is probably one that most of us who have driven in summer have experienced - coming up the brow of a hill only to drive into direct sunlight is not a nice experience.
The best tip to combat this is to keep your windscreens really clean and make sure that your windscreen wipers are in tip top condition. I also permanently have a pair of Ray Bans perched on my head and a spare pair in the car just in case.
Hayfever bother
If you’re driving on the motorway at 70mph and sneeze, you can lose vision for up to 100m. So slow down and take it easy if you feel a sneeze coming on.
Also make sure you minimize sneezing risk by closing windows and doors in the car and regularly cleaning mats and carpets to get rid of any pollen.
It helps to have tissues to hand so that you don’t have to hunt for them and sunglasses to cope with any additional glare. And of course make sure that you have checked any medication you are taking to see if it makes you drowsy.
Slippery Roads
Remember that when it suddenly buckets down on a dry day, roads can become a major hazard. The rain mixes in with the oil and dirt on the road making conditions super slippery. So don’t go too fast and be careful!
Busier Roads
It’s not just you that wants to go for a summer drive, so do the motor bikers, the cyclists and the local farmer on his tractor. So remember these facts:
Motorcycles have complete use of the traffic lane – so you don’t think you can share their lane. You should increase your distance between yourself and the motorcyclist by four seconds or more.
And as for those tractors…
It may be tempting to whizz past a tractor and overtake them but be careful. Tractors are often a lot longer than they at first appear and their drivers may well be wearing ear protectors so they can’t hear approaching cars. Tractors also don’t have brake or indicator lights in the daytime, only in the nighttime – this means they could stop or turn suddenly without warning.
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