Being in a car can get warm. So we are going to look at some tips for driving in hot weather to help you stay cooler, particularly as we head for another heatwave this week.
Firstly, prepare yourself and the vehicle for the journey.
Prepare Yourself
This may sound obvious, but wearing suitable loose clothing can make a difference. Shorts instead of trousers, t-shirts instead of shirts etc. 🩳 👕
We would also strongly advise sun cream for longer periods driving in the car. Your arms and legs are particularly prone to getting burnt especially if traffic is encountered. A handy tip is to keep some in the car 🧴🚘
Ensure you have shades and they are clean. The glare may not be obvious setting off but it can reflect off buildings or other vehicles during the journey 🕶️
Make sure you stay hydrated, both before and during your journey. Drink plenty of water in the day before the journey and make sure you take enough water in the car for your journey. Putting in the fridge the day before or adding some ice cubes works well 🧊🧊
Prepare the car
If a longer journey, when did you last check the air con? Its definitely worth a re-gas if its been a while 🚘 ❄️
Ensure you open the car up well before you set off. Open doors/windows and let the heat escape before you get in. This also allows the steering wheel to cool down 🥵
We recently saw a tip from Hannah Fry using the rear opposite window and physics to cool the car. Its a great tip, which can be found here: Hannah Fry YouTube
Plan your journey. Check traffic and roadworks on route to avoid if possible. You want to keep moving where possible so the air flow is better to keep the car and yourself cooler 📱 🅰️ → 🅱️
It goes without saying to never leave animals or children in a car for any length of time. A car can get dangerously hot in very little time, the risk is not worth it.
Once you’ve set off, put your air conditioning to recirculate function. This means the system cools the air already cooler within the vehicle and not the very hot air outside 🪭
Take spare clothes to change into once you get there. A nice clean top is better than a sweaty one 👍
Get some summer music on and take your time = enjoy the sunshine responsibly 🚘 😎
Air con re gas can be done at local garages including Formula 1 or Halfords