Tips for Staying Safe While Driving in the Summer Heat

Now that summer is in full swing in Tennessee, the temperature only continues to increase. Along with the state’s humidity, the weather can prove dangerous when someone doesn’t have a way to cool off. However, the hot weather can impact not only those outside, but those in their vehicles as well.

Heat wears away at things over time including your vehicle and the condition of the roads upon which you drive. For this reason it’s best to follow these tips in order to stay safe while driving in the summer heat.

1. Be sure to check your tires.

Regardless of the temperature outside, your tires get hotter when you drive as they cause friction with the road. But during the summer months the roads can be much hotter than the air temperature, only increasing the temperature of your tires. Damaged, heavily worn, and under-inflated tires are at an increased risk of blowing out. For this reason it’s important to check your tires regularly to ensure that they aren’t damages and that they are inflated properly.

2. Pay attention to the plastic and rubber components of your car.

A variety of your vehicle’s parts can become extremely hot during the summer months. This is especially true for plastic and rubber parts, which can be damaged by heat. This includes parts such as your vehicle’s belt or hose, which can impact your AC or even your vehicle starting. That’s why it’s important that you check under your hood at least once each summer to check for any damage on these parts. Using a flashlight can really help to see what’s going on.

3. Check your battery.

Batteries often leak or become corrosive, but especially when placed in higher heat. This may cause battery fluids to negatively impact the connection with your electrical system. That’s why you should always inspect your battery when you check the other parts of your vehicle under the hood. Check for loose connections or any corrosion. If you find that any of your electrical parts turn off without any apparent reason, it may indicate that there is an issue with you battery.

4. Keep your AC cranked.

Keeping your AC on not only helps to keep you cool in the summer heat, but can also help to keep the components of your vehicle cool. It’s extremely important that your engine does not overheat, which is a possibility as it becomes very hot even in the winter. Make sure that your coolant levels are adequate and if not be sure to add it as needed. If you notice on your temperature gauge that your vehicle is overheating, make sure to pull over and turn off the vehicle.

5. Always double-check to ensure no one is left in the car.

During the summer the interior of your vehicle takes just 10 minutes to increase by 20 degrees when the air conditioning isn’t on. This poses a deadly risk to children and pets. For this reason it’s extremely important that small children and pets are never left in a vehicle without air conditioning. Small children can die if their body temperature reaches 104 degrees, which it will much quicker than an adult’s would. Therefore it doesn’t take much for a child’s life to be at great risk. The same thing goes for pets, which generally have a lot of fur covering their bodies. It’s imperative that both small children and pets are never left in a hot car. Therefore it’s best to double – or even triple-check your vehicle to ensure it’s empty before locking it.

6. Always make sure you have a stocked emergency kit.

If your vehicle suffers any issues during the summer, it can prove really dangerous for you. When you are left either outside in the heat or in the vehicle without AC, the heat can put you at great risk. Therefore it’s important to have a stocked emergency kit at all times. This includes water bottles, non-perishable food items, a first aid kit, and a spare cell phone charger.

While you can’t always prevent your car from malfunctioning, by being prepared you can help to minimize the risk of serious issues.

When you’re injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence or a malfunctioning vehicle part, it can greatly affect your life. That’s why it’s so important to consult with a knowledgeable and experienced Tennessee personal injury attorney who can help to fight for what you deserve.

Robert BatesRobert is a Kingsport trial lawyer who handles car, truck and motorcycle wreck cases across the Tri-Cities. Every client gets his cell number.