Written by Jim, JSF Driving School
Driving in hot, sunny conditions can cause drowsiness and difficulty concentrating, especially on longer journeys, so as I was saying last week, it is best to be prepared given the unpredictability of British weather!
I covered coping with Glare in Part 1 last week, so that leaves the other summer driving hazard……..
HEAT
The British summer months should bring an increase in temperature. Inside a car, this heat can quickly build up, so ventilation becomes very important. If you have air conditioning this helps, or open the air vents and windows to allow the interior to remain comfortable. Do not leave animals or children without adult supervision inside a vehicle when it is warm for this reason.
Inadequate ventilation when traveling can make you feel drowsy and less alert. Sticking to speed limits becomes even more important if there is a small chance of a momentary slip in concentration, as you may find it difficult or impossible to slow down in time to avoid an accident if you are traveling above the recommended speed limit.
Never pull up on the hard shoulder of motorways if you feel tired. Schedule in regular breaks and plenty of refreshments, especially on longer journeys when driving in the summer, to help you stay cool, relax, and de-stressed. Make use of service areas, or get off the motorway at least, before you stop.
Heat can also effect the road surface itself, making tarmac quite soft during long periods of hot weather. A hot road surface can become very slippery when oil and water build up on it, particularly if there is a sudden shower after a dry spell.
Drivers need to appreciate the effect that sunshine has on the road surface. Briefly, the road surface works at its best when the stones enclosed in the bitumen stick out above the surface allowing the tyres to get a grip. In hot weather the bitumen warms up and the stones sink down leaving a slick sticky surface which effects grip whilst warm, but as the evening cools down the surface solidify and become as smooth as glass, which can make driving treacherous. Vehicles can then experience an effect known as bitu-planing, which it is similar to aqua-planing, but occurs in warm dry weather. Be careful when braking and cornering in these situations, read the road ahead and watch your speed and distance!
Highway authorities tend to increase their resurfacing programme during the warmer months, dotting the nation with warning signs setting speed limits and giving advice. Always observe these signs, and keep your distance from fellow travellers, as flying stone chips can cause expensive damage to your car and serious injury to other road users, particularly if on foot.
Finally, if you wish to avoid the biggest cause of vehicle breakdown in Britain during the summer months, then avoid overheated engines! Listen out for traffic updates before and during your journey, and do not go anywhere near known traffic hold-ups.
If you are caught in a traffic queue that hasn’t moved for some time, then it would probably be wise to turn off your engine. In some parts of Europe if you have to stop your vehicle for more than a couple of minutes, then you are required to turn your engine off……worth thinking about if you wish to avoid clouds of steam escaping from beneath the bonnet as temperatures rise!
That just about covers this topic…..now we just have to wait for the summer to arrive!
T: 0800 3777 138/01452 290278 E: sharn@jsfdrivingschool.co.uk
