We make better drivers and riders

All hot and bothered!

Blog post posted on 27/07/16 |
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Advice

Last week proved to be the hottest day of the year in the UK and it looks like summer has truly arrived. Here are some summer travelling safety tips from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman.

  • Safety first. When travelling try to always plan your journey. Check the tread and pressure of your tyres and check car fluids such as . . . . Don’t neglect the windows; the sun on a dirty windscreen can make driving hazardous.

  • Stay hydrated! We recommend having 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.

  • 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 sun glasses

  • 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.

Richard said,” 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.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

  1. Richard Gladman is IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards.
  2. IAM RoadSmart has a mission to make better drivers and riders in order to improve road safety, inspire confidence and make driving and riding enjoyable. It does this through a range of courses for all road users, from online assessments through to the advanced driving and riding tests. IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of all businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy. The organisation has 92,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers, while our Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programmes.

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart products and services visit the new website www.iamroadsmart.com

Media contacts:

Further information from:

IAM RoadSmart press office – 020 8996 9777 

press.office@iam.org.uk / www.iamroadsmart.com

ISDN broadcast lines available

Follow us:

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/IAMRoadSmart

On Twitter: @IAMRoadSmart 

ENDS ALL