Warm Weather
When brutal driving conditions come to mind, hot, sunny days are not usually what we think of. Normally, we take the opportunity in this kind of weather to go for a leisurely joyride with the windows rolled own and the music turned up. What we don’t realize is there are a number of things triggered by extreme heat that we should be concerned about. Here are the important ones to keep in mind while driving:
Overheating
Many breakdowns are caused by overheated engines, and summertime heat is definitely a contributing factor. To help prevent this, you should flush and refill your vehicle’s cooling system at the intervals suggested in the owner’s manual. You should also check the level, quality, and concentration of coolant more often. The recommended concoction is normally half water and half antifreeze.
If the engine overheats, or you are inspecting your vehicle at home, do not unscrew the radiator cap until the engine has completely cooled down. You should leave it to a professional to check how secure and reliable the drive belts, clamps, and hoses are.
Tire care
While tire maintenance is something you should never neglect, it is especially essential to monitor your tires during hotter months because lengthy trips, taxing loads, fast driving, and sizzling temperatures all put strain on your tires. Here are some ideas to reduce some of this stress on your wheels:
- Examine your tires on a regular basis to verify that there is no extensive wear and tear.
- Inflate your tires to the exact specifications provided by the manufacturer. Use a gauge to check tire pressure frequently, especially if you are traveling long distance. You will get the most accurate results if you check while the tires are cold; the best time to take a reading is either before driving or well after the car has had time to cool off. Consult your owner’s manual, your glove compartment, or the panel inside the driver’s side door to obtain the manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure. Make sure you don’t confuse the recommended inflation pressure with the maximum inflation pressure listed on the side of the tire. Filling your tires to the recommended pressure ensures that they will be more durable, and the vehicle won’t burn gas as quickly. Under or overinflating the tires can cause loss of control or a blowout that can result in severe damage to the vehicle and injury to its passengers.
- Never load your car with more weight than it is designed to handle, or you are putting yourself and any passengers in jeopardy. The maximum weight supported by your vehicle can be found in the owner’s manual or inside the driver’s door.
- Be certain that your tires contain enough tread to ensure vehicle stability, and make sure that the wear is not imbalanced. Using a penny as a guide, a tire’s grooves should be deep enough so that when the penny is inserted, it is hidden at least up to Abraham Lincoln’s head. Obviously, low tread or no tread at all is a hazard, and these tires should be replaced.
- If you notice that the wear on your tires is being distributed unevenly, bring your vehicle in to be serviced by an expert. This may be a sign of another problem such as misaligned wheels, faulty shocks, or some other problem.
- Avoid traveling at high rates of speed for extended periods of time in hot weather, and try to abide by the speed limit. You will also notice improved gas mileage.
Sudden storms
Summertime storms often occur spontaneously and make for quite a chaotic situation on the roads. Here is some advice to help you react in a timely and logical manner to storms without warning:
- Flash floods – While driving, you should be aware of the depth of water across a dip in the roadway before attempting to cross. Realize that the road bed may have begun to deteriorate below the water and could easily give out with the weight of the car. If the engine becomes waterlogged and the car stalls, get out of there as rapidly as you can, and hustle to higher terrain. If the water is really gushing, it could swallow the vehicle up along with its occupants if they don’t flee in time.
- Tornados – As soon as you spot a tornado, abandon your vehicle, and run for shelter. If you can’t locate shelter in the immediate area, bury yourself in the closest trench, gully, or gutter, and shield your head with your arms. Watch for water that could be rising around you.
Keeping kids and pets safe
On hot days, it’s quite possible for the temperature to rise well over 100°F inside a vehicle with its windows rolled up. Never make the mistake of leaving children and pets locked in a car under these conditions, even if you’re parked in your own driveway. The following tips could be the difference between life and death:
- Never allow your child to remain unsupervised inside a car, regardless of whether the windows are down.
- Express to children the dangers associated with playing in and around cars.
- Keep car doors and drunks locked at all times, even when the vehicle is at your house. Also don’t give children access to the keys.
- Make sure all young occupants get out of the car when you arrive at your destination; don’t forget sleeping babies.
- If a car has been baking in the sun for awhile, test car seats and buckles for warmth before placing a child in a safety restraint. It could be hot enough to scald the toddler’s skin.
- Shield the rear interior of the vehicle with a light screen, or use shades on the windows.
Air quality
Sunlight, heat, and car fumes all team up to pollute the ozone layer. This toxic combination can cause respiratory problems and permanently harm the lungs in some instances. Here are some suggestions that encourage a cleaner atmosphere:
- Don’t drive as often, especially during rush hour on hot days.
- Try not to rev your engine or sit idle for more than 30 seconds at a time.
- Put gas in your car at night to avoid evaporation due to the high daytime temperature.
- Fill your tires appropriately, and keep your wheels aligned.