Tips for Driving in Summer
With the temperature heating up across the UK, here are a few driving tips to help you enjoy your summer safely.
1) Wear appropriate clothing
Picking the right kind of clothing is important, especially for long trips. This includes shoes; if you do have an accident, inappropriate footwear could lead to a careless driving charge.
Wear something that allows you to have full control while using the pedals. So if you are heading to the beach, pack sandals in your bag and wear another pair of shoes for driving.
Wearing sunglasses while driving is another way to reduce the effect of sun glare.
2) Prevent your car from overheating
Keep your car well ventilated by opening the windows or using the air-conditioning. Try to park in the shade if possible.
When you aren’t able to park in the shade, using a reflective or non-reflective sunshade may also help. This will help to reduce the interior temperature of your vehicle.
3) Conduct regular maintenance on your car
Car engines are more prone to overheating in the summer, so make sure to check your coolant level more often. You should check your engine oil and windscreen washer fluid too.
Checking the condition and pressure of your tyres is also important. In very high temperatures, road surfaces can become soft and this may affect the condition of driving lanes.
4) Drive cautiously in summer rainfall
Be aware that driving on wet roads after a hot spell can also make them far more slippery. During warm, dry weather for an extended period of time, the build up on the road surface accumulates.
Substances such as oil, grease, tar and rubber form a thin layer on the road surfaces.
5) Reduce sun glare
Sunglasses and using the sun visor will help to prevent sunlight dazzling you as you drive. It can be just as dangerous to drive when dealing with extreme sun glare as it is during storms.
6) Stay hydrated
Keep bottles of water in your car to keep yourself hydrated during your journey and avoid heat exhaustion. Storing snacks such as sweets or mints in your car can also give you a little boost of energy if needed.
However, avoid consuming any food and drink while you are driving and pull over for a break if you need to.
7) Be smart about fuelling up
Plan your journey ahead of time. You can use our fuel station locator app to find the most convenient locations to fuel up. Our fuel cards offer an excellent way to manage and monitor fuel consumption.
These are a few of the precautions you can take to help keep yourself safe this summer.
Useful Links
To find out more about our fuel cards click here – https://www.cambriancards.com/fuel-cards/
To learn how our telematics solutions will help your fleet become more efficient and effective, click here – https://www.cambriancards.com/telematics/
