Whilst many learner drivers opt to avoid taking their test in the winter due to the hazards caused by rain, snow and ice, driving during some of the hottest days of the year comes with its own challenges.
As with winter driving, however, opting to take your lessons during a heatwave offers some remarkable learning opportunities to develop your skills as a driver and learn how to adapt to more complex road and driving conditions.
There are advantages to learning during a heatwave beyond benefitting from the air conditioning, but it is also important to know your personal limits when it comes to heat.
To understand why, here are some top tips, advice on hidden hazards and whether a heatwave is the best time to learn to drive at all.
How Hot Is Too Hot When Learning To Drive?
For the most part, it is usually safe to drive when it is hot, and in many cases it will not necessarily affect your journey.
However, there is a point where the weather can reach a point where it affects the road network and creates additional risks that a learner driver may not always feel comfortable handling.
Depending on what the surface is made of, some roads begin to melt, deform or even crack under the weight of heavy traffic as the cooking surface softens.
This can begin occurring at under 30 degrees Celsius, creating sticky roads that can affect your tyres whilst driving, which can be disconcerting when first learning to drive.
In general, your instructor will take the opportunity to teach you the effects of extreme weather on both your car and the road surface, but if temperatures reach over 40 degrees Celsius, they may also consider rearranging the lessons for another, cooler time.
What Should You Check Before Your Driving Lesson?
One aspect of summer driving that instructors have a golden opportunity to teach is the importance of regularly checking your car before you set off to ensure it is safe to drive, will feel consistent and is comfortable for you and your instructor.
Before setting off, your instructor might provide some advice on how to check the parts of the car most directly affected by a heatwave:
- Tyres – Specifically tyre pressure, tread depth and wear patterns
- Brakes – As they generate heat by design, they need to be given the chance to cool to avoid fade
- Essential fluids – in particular, coolant and engine oil need to be checked, topped up and replaced to protect your engine and other vital components
- Battery – As they hold less charge when hot, batteries need to be checked to ensure they are still charging and will allow you to turn the ignition
- Belts and Hoses – These are the components most likely to break in hot weather
- Air Conditioning – Not only is it important for comfort, but overheating can also make it harder to concentrate and safely drive
Most of these can be checked fairly quickly, and an instructor will be able to provide advice and guidance, especially since this can be helpful to know during the test.
Hidden Hazards Of Driving During Heatwaves
Whilst the dangers of driving during a blizzard are more readily apparent, driving during a heatwave has its own range of potential dangers.
The main effects on the car itself are listed above, but here are some of the ways a hot day can affect you.
Heat And Concentration
Hot weather not only affects the body but the mind as well, and there is a connection between hot weather and impulsive behaviour, slower thinking times, reduced memory capacity and lower attention spans.
This is why air conditioning is not just about comfort but safety, and why it is important to carry a cold drink or two in the glove compartment away from the harsh glare of the sun, as well as wear loose-fitting clothing.
Glare And Sunlight
If you are driving towards the sun, it can be difficult to avoid being in the harsh glare of sunlight, which can be distracting and further increase thinking time.
This is why you must have a pair of sensible sunglasses in the car, as well as a hat to block the sun’s rays and protect yourself from sunburn.
Longer Journeys And Traffic Jams
An unexpected aspect of a heatwave is that peak times often lead to more drivers on the roads, which can cause the types of stop-start traffic jams that increase the strain on your car.
If you can, ideally avoid running lessons when the sun is at its highest, but if that is not possible, then factor in the increased journey times.