As temperatures continue to soar this week, drivers have been urged to do five things before heading off during the hot weather. Temperatures could top more than 40C in the south of England, while heat alerts have been put in place across other parts of the country.
It's understandable that many people will want to make the most of the good weather, by visiting family and friends and tourist hotspots across the UK. According to National Highways, England's "motorways and major A roads are highly resilient to extremes of weather, including hot weather."
They added: "The design and build standards we apply to our roads are considered best practice and are adopted by other countries around the world." But the government-owned company, which operates, maintains and improves England's motorways and major A roads, says there are a number of ways drivers can deal with the heat and dazzling sunshine as they prepare to make their journeys.
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Drivers travelling during periods of hot weather this week and coming weekend are being advised to:
- Take a bottle of water before setting out to ensure they stay hydrated
- Plan and leave plenty of time for their journey
- Check the weather forecast for their destination
- Check your vehicle before you leave
- Check travel conditions before setting out and, where it is safe to do so, during journeys.
Mel Clarke, Customer Service Director for Operations at National Highways, said: “It is always important to plan ahead for your journey and this advice is no different during periods of hot weather. Our advice is that everyone should check their vehicles, such as tyres, coolant and oil levels, before heading out.”
National Highways also offers some useful advice while driving in bright sunshine.
- You can reduce the glare from sunlight by taking some sunglasses with you, as bright sunshine can lower visibility and make driving more challenging. However, avoid category four sunglasses as these have extremely dark lenses which let in very little light and are unsuitable for driving. All sunglasses should be labelled with a category number.
- During particularly hot weather, make sure your engine stays within the normal operating temperature range. However, if it begins to overheat, find somewhere safe to stop and allow it to cool down.
- Summer is popular for cyclists, motorcyclists, walkers and horse riders to get out and about, so please take particular care to give them space and time. Slow down on sharp bends in case there’s a vulnerable road user around the corner.
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