With a thermometer that once again exceeds 30°C this week, the departures and returns from vacation next weekend will have to be done with great caution. The chance for some tips if you’re about to hit the road.
Breakdowns: tires, battery… check your car carefully!
Before a long trip, it’s always wise to take a quick tour of the vehicle, especially if you haven’t had a chance to have it checked out by a garage recently. And it is even more recommended during a heat wave.
At a minimum, check engine oil and coolant level (always cold engine) as well as tire pressure and wear.
This tire check It’s crucial. In case of insufficient inflation, the risk of explosion increases, especially on highways with the friction that generates additional heat.
The recommended pressure for your vehicle’s tires is listed on the door sill, in the glove box, or in your vehicle’s maintenance booklet. It is also recommended to mount slightly overinflated, between +0.2 or 0.3 bar. The check and inflation must be done cold, but if it has to be done hot, remember to add 0.3 bar to the recommended cold pressure.
Do not forget to also check the pressure of the spare wheel if it has one, or the presence of an anti-puncture kit on board.
12V battery of your vehicle may also have difficulty withstanding the heat:
“A battery in a temperate zone will last 47 months versus 30 months in a very hot zone. During heat waves, the most frequent problems are essentially battery and motor cooling problems. The battery is much more stressed (the air conditioning and the fan run at full speed and the electrolyte tends to dry out)”, recalls Ctek, a company that offers battery charging and maintenance solutions.
If your car has been immobilized for some time, before the big departure or at your vacation spot, check that it is in good condition before D-Day to avoid this unpleasant surprise. The heat, but also the fact that only short trips are made, that modern equipment continues to pump energy or that a “hands-free” key remains close to the vehicle (and therefore continues to communicate with it) can help discharge the battery during a shutdown dragged on. The cases had multiplied at the end of the confinements linked to covid-19, with a start that is no longer guaranteed for certain models after only 15 days without driving.
Drowsiness: multiplies pauses
With high temperatures, increases the risk of drowsiness. Here’s a few common-sense tips: Get a good night’s sleep before your big outing and don’t set an arrival time to limit stress.
Above all, once on the road, do not hesitate to stop as soon as you feel the first signs of fatigue and do not necessarily wait for two hours of driving. Duration after which it is advisable to pause, but take it as the maximum duration.
Drowsiness remains the leading cause of death on the motorway network, The Vinci Autoroutes foundation recently recalled, broadcasting a study carried out by Autoroutes Trafic, a historic player in traffic information in France, and Arcadis, a mobility and travel design office.
“The results reveal in particular that 20% of long trips are made without any stops, and that 55% of stop times in rest areas are less than 20 minutes, insufficient time to take a restorative break”, indicates a press release. .
In July, at the Limours-Janvry rest area (A10), the Vinci Autoroutes Foundation offered holidaymakers the chance to take a short nap in cocoons designed by its partner Nap&Up (photo above), a start-up that promotes the practice of the micronap. To support these “siesta drivers” and facilitate their relaxation, Nap&Up and the Foundation have jointly designed an exclusive podcast that will allow them to easily fall asleep during a break.
A renewed operation until August 20, every Friday and Saturday, in 14 lively areas of the Vinci network.
Overheating on board, how to limit the risks?
Obvious danger during a heat wave: overheating on board. You can now limit the increase in temperature when the vehicle is stationary, favoring places in the shade. But they are often taken by storm, so the ideal is still to have sun visors for the windscreen, but also for the side windows, which can thus be less exposed when driving.
With an outside temperature above 30°C, the temperature on board can reach 70°C, with a real risk of burns when touching surfaces on board, steering wheel, gear lever and seat, warns Assurland.
More than ever, some rules to follow for Make good use of your air conditioner.: ventilate the vehicle well before leaving, doors wide open, and drive the first kilometers with the windows open. Once the temperature has dropped or when you hit the highways, you can close the windows and turn on the air conditioning.
We generally recommend not have a difference greater than 5 to 7°C with the outside temperature. It’s also best to avoid directing the airflow toward your face and the faces of your passengers. By directing it towards the ceiling, the cold diffuses better and everyone can enjoy it.
With the multiplication of fires this summer throughout France, we must also remain vigilant on this point, recalls the insurance comparator:
“Theoretically, in a thermal vehicle in good condition, there is no risk of fire, the fuel tanks and the circuits (petrol or diesel) are safe. However, for a vehicle with a fuel leak, the consequences of high temperatures can be dramatic, with “fuel vapors or some droplets that can ignite and cause a serious fire.”
Another risk, although still limited: park after a long drive in an area where tall grass can come into contact with hot vehicle parts. This was the presumed cause of a fire on the Belgian coast at the end of July.
Source: BFM TV
