Whether you need to take an extended trip or you spend most of your driving time running short, daily errands, you will most likely encounter your share of hot, humid Georgia weather. This weather not only causes discomfort but it can also have an impact on your car, your safety, and the well-being of your passengers.
You can get the upper hand over heat-related vehicular concerns simply by understanding the potential problems and preparing for them in advance. Here are three important things to do before you hit the road in the heat.
1. Protect Your Health and Wellness
A sudden automotive failure on a hot day can present serious risks to occupants' health and wellness, especially if it occurs on a deserted stretch of road. The longer it takes to flag down a passing car or wait for roadside assistance, the more UV exposure and dehydration you may experience unless you've anticipated this contingency.
Prepare for hot-weather trips in advance by stocking a cooler full of both bottled water and sports drinks (which contain important minerals). You should also carry some towels that you can dip into cool water and apply to your head or neck. And remember to pack road flares and other attention-getting devices, as well as a spare tire and other emergency tools.
Don't let anyone sit in a hot parked car for more than a few minutes. Even with vented windows, temperatures can rise to worrying levels within minutes, proving especially dangerous for children and pets. If you need to park your car on a hot day, bring passengers indoors with you or wait for roadside assistance outside the vehicle.
Additionally, hot weather usually means lots of sun. Brilliant glare can irritate your eyes and affect your vision, possibly impairing your driving safety. Always wear sunglasses that block both glare and UV rays effectively. And carry enough sunscreen to protect everyone in the car against harmful rays.
2. Keep Your Vehicle in Optimal Condition
Motor vehicles can have trouble with hot weather just as humans can. A component in marginal condition can cross the line into failure when subjected to the additional stresses of extreme heat. Because of this, you should adhere to your recommended service schedule, paying close attention to the condition of your battery, fluids, and cooling system.
Additionally, tires can become more vulnerable to blowouts in hot weather. The elevated road temperatures can cause the air inside the tires to expand, turning properly inflated tires into over-inflated tires that may weaken and fail. Check your air pressure regularly during hot weather to keep it within the recommended range.
3. Watch Out for Road Rage
Even if both your car and its occupants have what they need to stay functional in hot weather, you may still face another potential danger: the phenomenon known as road rage. Drivers who experience road rage may easily lose their tempers while driving, causing them to drive with undue aggression.
While road rage can pose problems at any time of year, hot weather seems to aggravate this kind of behavior. One Phoenix study showed that angry honking in traffic increased as temperatures rose. Another study found that car crash numbers rose significantly during periods of extreme heat.
During the dog days of summer, pay extra attention to drivers who speed, cut other cars off, or honk their horns without provocation. Put some distance between your vehicle and theirs if at all possible. You can also drive safely and predictably to avoid irking them further, and monitor your own driving and mood so you don't fall prey to road rage.
Taggart's Driving School can help you brush up your hot-weather driving skills or give you the basic training you need to drive more safely in any weather. Contact us today to ask about our various driver's education programs.
