You might be forgiven for the thinking that summer is the easiest time of the year to be driving. However, summer has its own particular challenges for drivers, according to Sadie Lane, Safedrive Operations Manager at Towergate Insurance Brokers.
“Summer brings out a variety of different road users that can hold up your journey. Be on the look-out for horses, tractors, caravans, horseboxes, cyclists and walkers. People pay less attention when driving during the summer months, as they are more relaxed and are easily distracted.
“Loose chippings are also a very common sight on roads in the summer, they can cause cracked headlamps and windscreens as well as damage your vehicle’s paintwork. Construction increases during the summer, for obvious reasons, so you will see more roadworks than usual. Stick to temporary speed limits as advised by road signage. Driving by construction sites can be frustrating as they often cause traffic to slow down and that can make drivers more likely to rush to get where they are going, when they finally do get past construction zones.“
The golden rules of summer:
In hot weather, vehicles may sometimes give unnecessary cause for concern. Here are some examples of things you don’t need to worry about:
A) Pools of water collecting under a vehicle are caused by condensed water from the air conditioning system. b) Vapour from air vents is just water vapour produced by the air conditioning unit that has not had time to condense. c) Roaring sounds coming from the engine bay are often just the cooling fan turning on and off. d) If your vehicle seems to have less power, this is probably because the air is warmer and less dense, resulting in the engine being less efficient.
Sources: Driving for Better Business
Date: August 19, 2024
Category: Motor