How to keep your cool behind the wheel this summer

The weather this summer might have been a bit hit and miss but with last week's scorching temperatures hopefully to be repeated and many of us hitting the road to embark on summer holidays there's plenty of scope for motorists to get hot and bothered in the coming weeks.
How to keep cool behind the wheelHow to keep cool behind the wheel
How to keep cool behind the wheel

Holiday traffic inevitably means jams and hold ups and it’s all too easy for that relaxing break to become a nightmare on wheels. To help avoid frayed tempers and more serious consequences of long journeys in the summer heat, the IAM has issued a series of tips for keeping cool in the car.

* Stay hydrated! Always have plenty of water as it is essential for maintaining blood circulation throughout the body and helps control the body temperature. Keep a bottle in the car.

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* When driving, concentration starts to slip after two hours so have a breather and take regular fifteen minute breaks. Get out of the car and stretch. It helps fight fatigue.

* When driving into the direction of the sun use your sun visor to help block out the glare and if that doesn’t work for you, invest a decent pair of sunglasses.

* Protect your skin and apply an SPF sun cream as it is useful for protecting parts of skin we can’t shade. This is especially important in a convertible. You may not feel the sun as the breeze can be pleasant but you may still burn.

* Put together an emergency kit; some drinks and snacks, a charger for your mobile phone and a road map for last-minute detours are all useful items. Some entertainment for your younger passengers may make the journey less stressful.

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IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman, added,” Don’t forget how hot your car can be even after a short time when stationary. Children and pets don’t respond well to the raised temperature when in a confined space. Never leave them in an unattended car as they can become unwell very quickly. Plan your journey with comfort breaks for all of your passengers including your pets.”