With temperatures
rising we’ve got ten tips to help ensure that you and your car survive even the hottest driving conditions.
- When driving in extreme heat, water is crucial to avoid dehydration so have plenty of bottled water in your car
- Make sure your phone is fully charged
- Never leave your child or pet in the car, unattended, even for a few minutes, in the heat.
- Avoid travelling at peak times, if you’re traveling a long distance, leave early in the morning or late at night.
- Sounds obvious but wear appropriate clothing. Wearing light coloured clothing made of natural fabrics will keep you cooler longer.
- Check your tyres are properly inflated and check your oil level.
- Make sure that your air conditioning (if you have it!) works properly.
- If the engine starts to overheat, pull the car over immediately and wait for assistance. Continuing to drive even for a short distance could cause irreparable damage to the car and cost you significantly more in the long run
- When parking, try and keep your car in the shade
- Having an emergency kit in your car is always a good idea, useful items include water, non-perishable food items (energy bars, unsalted nuts, dried fruit) a torch with extra batteries, basic tool kit and a first aid kit.
Geraldine Herbert
