Driving laws you need to know this summer

As the summer weather seems to be blazing, there are a few laws that you need to be aware of. You can be caught out for things you might not realise – keep reading to find out how you can stay safe on the roads.

Hay fever medication

With the high temperature comes high pollen levels. You might be suffering from a few allergies this season – but have you checked the box of antihistamines you’re taking to see the side effects? Some of them can cause drowsiness and grogginess, and the law states that if you’re driving is impaired because of this then you can face a fine or even lose your license. Avoid chlorphenamine, hydroxyzine and promethazine, and instead try to use cetirizine, loratadine and fexofenadine. If you’re unsure, check the back of the box before you take them or speak to your pharmacist.

Breaking a car window

If you see a dog left in a car on a hot day, your first instinct may be to smash the window and rescue the pet, as the temperatures in a car can make them suffer from severe heatstroke. Some owners believe that leaving the window open will prevent it, but the heat in the car can more than double either way – so don’t consider leaving your pet in the car under any circumstances.

However, breaking a car window is classed as criminal damage – technically, only the police are allowed to force entry. Therefore, if you can take other action, do this first. If it’s a supermarket or shopping centre car park, ask them to put out an announcement by providing them with the registration of the car. You can also check if the car doors are open, in which case you wouldn’t need to break the windows. In an emergency, you can also call 999.

However, if these don’t work or you aren’t able to do them, there is an exception to the law – under the 1971 Criminal Damage Act, you can lawfully commit criminal damage if the owner of the property would consent to it under certain circumstances. This means that if you can defend that the owner would have wanted you to save their pet, you are protected. Before breaking any windows, take videos and photos of proof of the pet in the car and if there are witnesses, take their contact details.

Once you’ve moved the dog out of the car, lay it in the shade and give it small amounts of water. Pour cool water over it to help relieve the symptoms, but make sure it isn’t too cold as this can cause shock.

Driving tired

Have you ever spent a long day in the heat and felt really tired afterwards? This is because your body is working overtime to try and keep you cool, as well as the likelihood that you’re dehydrated. If you’re planning on spending a day on the beach, it might be worth considering the bus – while there’s no law on driving tired specifically, you can face fines and a prison sentence for dangerous driving. Sometimes you can’t avoid feeling tired while driving, so take action. As soon as you feel tiredness coming on, pull into the nearest services or somewhere safe (not a hard shoulder) and take a break. You can either take a short nap, or drink two cups of coffee. If you’re planning a long journey, take multiple short breaks rather than one long one.