I’m a driving expert and motorists need to remember these tips when driving in the heat – they could save you thousands
DESPITE the poor weather we’ve had over the last week, Summer is nearly here.
With summer such an exciting and busy time for many, it’s important that safety remains a priority.
Seb Goldin, CEO of shares his tips for driving in hot weather.
Make your car as cool as possible
Now is the time to check the performance of your air conditioning and get it “charged” ahead of the summer.
A cooler car will reduce the stress and distractions placed on the driver.
Avoid the temptation to drive bare-footed or wear flip-flops.
Whilst there is currently no explicit law that prohibits driving with bare feet or any other form of footwear, Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that before setting out on a journey in a car, it’s important that “clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner”, therefore proper shoes are recommended.
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If you do break this rule by wearing inappropriate footwear, you are at risk of a £100 on-the-spot fine, as well as three penalty points on your licence.
Check your coolant
If you’re stuck in traffic or driving on a hot day, the engine will quickly overheat if there’s insufficient coolant in the radiator.
Smoke coming from the bonnet means the car is overheating.
Engines can overheat for many reasons, but normally it's because something's wrong within the cooling system and the heat isn't able to escape the engine compartment.
Regardless of the problem's source, you should not ignore it otherwise you risk doing serious if not permanent damage.
If your engine is overheating, find a safe place to pull over as you should not continue driving.
Otherwise you will need to get your car to a mechanic to fix the problem sooner rather than later.
If your engine overheats it could cost you thousands to replace.
Fill your windscreen washer
The good weather brings out insects which can make a mess of car windscreens.
A good quality windscreen fluid will remove dead flies and insects quickly and make the job of cleaning your car easier.
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Animals and kids
The most important rule of all, do not leave animals or children in the car unattended.
Temperatures inside a parked car can rise by three degrees within just ten minutes - and by more than 10 degrees within 30 minutes.
Even if the windows are opened, temperatures inside the car can still rise quickly.
