Motorists are being urged to remove four items from their vehicles this week, as the UK braces for a scorching heatwave that could see temperatures soar to a blistering 33C in some parts of England. The sweltering summer heat can pose unexpected risks to your safety while driving.
This week, the mercury is set to hit a high of 33C on Tuesday, August 12, before slightly cooling to 29C on Wednesday and Thursday, only to bounce back to 30C on Friday, according to the Met Office's weather forecast for London. By the weekend, temperatures will dip to a more manageable 27C.
As the heat intensifies, drivers are being advised to remove four common items from their cars. It comes as news emerges that the drink-driving limit could change drink-driving limit could change in England and Wales.
The first item is bottled water. It's not uncommon to leave a bottle of water in the car, but as the temperature rises, chemicals from the plastic can seep into the water, making it unsafe to drink.
This is particularly true if the bottle is made from a type of plastic commonly used in reusable bottles. In extreme cases, even single-use water bottles can act as a magnifying glass for sunlight, potentially causing a fire inside the vehicle, reports the Express.
The safest course of action is to remove the bottle from the car, ensuring both the vehicle's safety and the water's taste. Secondly, let's talk about medicine. You might not be aware, but common over-the-counter medicines like paracetamol, Calpol and other painkillers have a maximum temperature at which they remain safe.
If you leave a packet of painkillers in a hot car, they may lose their effectiveness or become completely useless. In fact, most commercial painkillers and medicines can only withstand temperatures up to 25C, which means you could even end up feeling worse. During heatwaves like this, it's strongly recommended that people store certain medicines in the fridge.
Sun cream, also known as sun block or sunscreen, or even sun tan lotion, is another problem when left in a hot car. It can spoil inside the bottle and could even explode due to the pressure in the heat. It's advised to treat it like expired sun cream and replace it.
Lastly, batteries. This could be a battery pack, a vape with a rechargeable battery, or packs of batteries for an emergency kit like a torch and radio, which many drivers keep in the boot.
Batteries are unsafe to keep in very hot conditions, as they could explode and leak battery acid, or catch fire if used when red hot. Meanwhile, you should also ensure your car is topped up with petrol (or diesel) as fuel consumption increases during a heatwave.
It's also crucial to check the levels of water and oil in hot weather and ensure your air conditioning gas is replenished. In addition you should also drive carefully in the heat while monitoring your engine's temperature gauge to prevent expensive breakdowns under the sun's glare.
