Red heat warning issued – tips for staying safe on the road in hot weather

For the first time temperatures of 40°C have been forecast in the UK, and the Met Office has issued the first ever Red warning for exceptional heat.

Exceptionally hot weather is expected in a large part of England early next week, with temperatures in the high 30s likely and perhaps even reaching 40°C.

Drivers face unique dangers in such hot weather. Here are some key safety tips, originally shared by National Highways.

The most important steps happen before your journey begins – make sure you’re prepared:

• Carry out our POWDERY vehicle checks. Breaking down in extremely hot weather can be particularly dangerous, so minimize the risk of a breakdown by ensuring your vehicle is fit for the road.
• Keep yourself informed: check the weather forecast for your route and destination just before you leave
• If hot weather is forecast, take plenty of drinking water with you – enough for you and your passengers
• Allow plenty of time for your journey, including regular breaks
• Check travel conditions before setting out. It’s worth setting up your sat-nav before you start your journey, especially if yours includes real-time traffic updates, and can reroute you automatically
• During periods of extreme hot weather, adjust your travel to avoid the hottest days and times of day if you can

Glaring sun can seriously impair your vision. Bring a pair of sunglasses and, when not wearing them, make sure they’re kept somewhere easily reachable, where you can access them without distraction.

All sunglasses should be labelled with a category number – avoid category four sunglasses: these have extremely dark lenses which make them unsuitable for driving.

We need to be constantly vigilant at all times behind the wheel, and Summer is an especially popular time for cyclists, motorcyclists, walkers and horse riders to get out and about, so please take particular care to give them space and time.

On country lanes, sharp bends, and in any situation in which your view of the road ahead is limited – slow down to account for vulnerable road users.

We need to be constantly vigilant at all times behind the wheel, and summer is an especially popular time for cyclists, motorcyclists, walkers and horse riders to get out and about, so please take particular care to give them space and time.

On country lanes, sharp bends, and in any situation in which your view of the road ahead is limited – slow down to account for vulnerable road users.

During particularly hot weather, make sure your engine stays within the normal operating temperature range. If it begins to overheat, find somewhere safe to stop and allow it cool down.

Read more in our Summer Driving Tips.

Are you a fleet manager? IAM RoadSmart offer training and fleet risk management products to help you protect your people, your vehicles, and your organisation. To find out how we can help you, get in touch.