In hot weather, cars behave like mobile greenhouses. Most of us have probably experienced the ordeal of trying to get into a car that's been parked in the summer sun for hours. A hot car can be worse than just uncomfortable: it can actually be dangerous.
Here are a few things to be aware of when the sun beats down, and a few tips to help car occupants survive the UK's warming climate.
Check that your car and its contents won't burn you
From the moment you get to your vehicle, you should be on your guard. As you reach for the door handle, pause and tap it a couple of times with a finger to make sure it's not going to burn your hand. Once you have the door open, be careful of these additional hotspots that are all too easy to lean against or grab without thinking:
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Car doors and bodywork
Metal gets very hot. On a blazing hot day, some metal parts can get hot enough to cause a real, skin-blistering burn.
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Steering wheel
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Seats, especially PVC and leather upholstery.
The sensitive skin on the backs of your legs will not thank you for plonking carelessly down on a hot car seat if you're wearing shorts or a short skirt.
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Items left in the car, especially metal items.
As with door handles and seats, check items that have been left in a hot car to make sure they're not going to burn you.
Remove certain items from the car during hot weather
Some substances can be transformed or ruined by high temperatures. Plastics can soften and warp; substances and chemicals can expand or react. These changes can be troublesome, or even dangerous, so it's best not to leave some things in your car when the weather gets hot.
Here are some things that could, potentially, cause issues in hot cars:
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Water in plastic bottles
Many plastic bottles can release harmful chemicals such as BPA and phthalates into the water as the temperatures get high. Water in cars should be kept in glass or stainless steel bottles, or plastic drink bottles that are free from BPA. Drivers are also reminded to take water bottles with them when leaving their cars during heatwaves.
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Mobile devices
Electronic devices may be damaged by very high temperatures. Batteries may be prematurely degraded and screens and cases may warp. In extreme cases, batteries may actually catch fire.
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Vapes and electronic cigarettes
These items also have batteries that are sensitive to high temperatures. High temperatures can cause these batteries to leak, burst or even ignite. Some insurance policies have exclusion clauses specifically about fires caused by vapes.
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Sunscreen
Although it is intended to shield you from the sun's harmful UV radiation, sunscreen can become ineffective if exposed to extreme heat. High temperatures can degrade the active ingredients and make the product less effective, according to The Sunday Times. Take sunscreen out with you on sunny days, but don't leave it in a hot car.
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Aerosols and lighters
Pressurised containers, such as aerosol cans of deodorant and hairspray, can explode if exposed to very high temperatures above 48°C. Cigarette lighters can also explode in hot cars. The temperature inside a car on a hot day may rise much higher than the air outside.
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Wine
Leaving wine in a hot car can completely ruin its taste. Excessive heat can also cause the formation of harmful chemicals such as ethyl carbamate - a known carcinogen.
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Sunglasses
Like sunscreen, it may seem ironic that sunglasses can be damaged by the sun! Once again, the temperatures that may occur inside a hot car can be high enough to cause warping in plastic frames and lenses. Take your sunglasses out with you but don't leave them in the car.
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Medication
Some medications can lose their effectiveness if kept above 25°C for extended periods. The information leaflets that come with many medications state that they should be stored out of direct sunlight and not be exposed to extreme temperatures. This may affect some life-saving treatments such as those used to treat allergic reactions, so it is important to remove medication from hot cars.
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Lipstick
Many items of makeup, especially lipstick, are likely to melt in hot conditions. This obviously ruins the products but it can also cause staining to car interiors that is stubborn and difficult to remove.
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Sugary or fizzy drinks
Cans and bottles of fizzy drink can burst in hot cars, and even cartons of still fruit juice may burst if temperatures get high enough.
Don't let your car overheat
Both your engine and the car's interior can suffer damage in the heat. A few checks and a bit of preparation can help to keep things manageable.
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Air conditioning
Make sure your aircon is regularly checked and maintained at service time. If it needs re-gassing, get it done in plenty of time for summer. Be aware that your engine works harder to cool things down at low speed. If you're doing a lot of miles under 50mph then consider turning off your aircon if open windows might suffice instead. You'll save fuel and reduce the load on your engine and battery.
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Oil
Keeping your oil fresh and topped up helps keep your engine cool and prevents overheating. Don't skip services and oil changes.
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Coolant
Check coolant levels regularly, especially in summer. Watch out for leaks or loose radiator hoses etc. Ensure you have the right coolant mix for the season. Your mechanic can advise.
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Grab those shady parking spots
It should go without saying that parking out of direct sunlight will help keep temperatures inside the car under control.
Don't let people or pets overheat
As global temperatures rise, heatstroke is becoming more common. Heat-related illness can cause serious illness in people and animals, and put a substantial additional load on medical services during heatwaves.
The inside of a car can be one of the hottest places you'll encounter, and even with aircon it can be a challenge to keep everyone cool. Here are a few things that can help:
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Cool boxes
Good quality cool boxes with cooling packs are the best place to keep many of the other items on this list. They should be considered an essential part of your heatwave survival kit.
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Drinking water
As we said above, don't leave plastic bottles in hot cars: the plastic may release harmful substances into the water when hot. Instead, take water in a glass bottle (in your cool box) or, better yet, choose stainless steel, double-skinned drinking bottles. These steel bottles are insulated by a vacuum between the steel skins and will keep water colder for longer. Don't forget to take water and a bowl for pets.
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Snacks that won’t be affected by the heat
You never know when you'll experience a breakdown or a motorway traffic jam. Food and water in your coolbox can be a real relief.
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A fully charged mobile phone and a charger or powerbank
Again, you never know what situations you may encounter, so be prepared. And don't forget, those coolboxes we keep mentioning can protect more than just food and water. A powerbank may not be safe to leave in a hot car, so put it in your coolbox.
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Hats
No rational person tackles summer without a hat these days. Surely we don't need to explain this one. Hats are especially important for kids.
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Sunglasses
They do more than reduce glare. Good sunglasses will protect your eyes from harmful UV radiation that can cause damage over the long term. But remember that plastic frames and lenses may warp if left in a hot car.
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Sun block
Another essential. Protect yourself and your family against sunburn and skin cancer. However, this is another item to store in your coolbox. Sun block can react in high temperatures and consequently become less effective.
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Emergency medication
A general first-aid kit is always a good idea. Pain killers and anti-inflammatories can be included, but medicines must always be kept where children cannot get to them. If anyone in the car has specific medication requirements for heart conditions, diabetes, allergies etc, they will usually have a routine of carrying essential meds with them. In really hot weather, it may be wise to store their medication in the coolbox during the journey. As we mentioned above, medication can be adversely affected by excessive heat.
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Never, ever leave animals in a hot car
While there is currently no specific law prohibiting leaving animals in cars, we are still legally responsible for our animals' health and welfare. Leaving an animal in conditions where it can suffer harm or distress is cruelty, and under The Animal Welfare Act 2006 penalties for cruelty can include a prison sentence and/or a fine.
Stay cool: stay safe.
