Seven tips for safe driving in summer
Published 22 June 2023
Last updated 26 April 2024
In this blog we look at seven tips to keep you driving safely in summer.
Well summer has finally arrived, and with it the terrifying prospect of seeing my dad in the sandals and sombrero he bought on a recent trip to Spain. I am fortunate enough to be able to hide away at Safe Driving for Life Towers and forget this image (after burdening you, our dear readers with it), but there are a few things it really does pay to keep in mind when the weather warms up.
From a driving perspective, the main things to think about are heat and glare. Yeah, I know that sounds boring and you just want to wend your leisurely way to the beach, but these conditions can cause real problems for drivers.
So, to help you, we’ve put together a list of seven top tips to help you stay safe and enjoy your driving this summer.
Tips for driving safely in summer:
- First things first. In a hot car on a hot day, you can become uncomfortable, short tempered and irritable. If your car has air-conditioning use it. While the air-conditioning is running, keeping the windows closed (which sounds silly) helps keep things cool inside the car
- Check your tyres. If your tyres are old or worn close to the limit get them changed at the earliest opportunity. Also check the tyre pressure. Tyres that are under inflated can get hot and the hot weather further increases the chance of a blowout – putting you – and other road users – at risk
- Your car’s cooling system is under more strain in hot weather. Make sure you check and top-up the coolant regularly, otherwise the engine may overheat. This can lead to a break-down and even destroy your engine
- Traffic jams are always possible especially on bank holidays and during the summer holiday season. This could leave you sitting in a hot car for longer than you anticipated. Plan your trip before you leave and, if it’s a longer journey, make sure you schedule plenty of rest and refreshment stops along the way
- Dehydration can be a danger if you’re sat in a hot car for a long time. Take bottles of water with you so that you can avoid dehydration
- Dazzle and glare from the sun might can also cause problems. The best way of dealing with this is to keep your windscreen clear of dirt and make sure your wipers are working effectively. You can also use your sun visor and wear sunglasses if it helps
- Glare can also have the unhappy effect of “hiding” other road users and make it difficult to judge distances. Keep your speed down, make sure you can always stop in the distance you can see to be clear ahead of you. Make sure that glare does not cause you to overlook another vehicle before you turn at a junction.
Heatwave
So, there it is, your straight-to-the-point guide to safe driving in summer. But before we say goodbye, it’s worth reminding you of all the excellent resources ready and waiting for you on Safe Driving for Life. To access some free content about all things related to safe driving, visit the advice section of the site. If you’re boning up ready for your theory test you can also take some free practice tests, shop for official DVSA publications, including Learning to Drive, Theory Test Cars and Driving – the essential skills.