Three summer road safety tips

Summer concentrates the months with the highest road accident rates of the year. To the excesses of major festivals, revelry, and alcohol consumption, other risk factors must be added that multiply with the arrival of good weather, such as distractions while driving and speeding. But the increase in accidents during the summer months is also explained by the onset of heat, one of the factors that most influence driving safety, as it slows down drivers' reaction and concentration capacity. However, it is relatively simple to keep this summer factor under control by following a series of tips that we will now explain to you.

Maintain the air conditioning temperature at 21-23 degrees

With fuel prices absolutely soaring and at historic highs, it is more important than ever to try to save as much fuel as possible while driving, but in a country like ours, with suffocating heatwaves, it is complicated to find a balance between fuel consumption and comfort inside the vehicle, especially when it comes to the air conditioning or climate control system of our car.

Three years ago we already published some practical tips to try to save fuel while driving, with various practices that can help us consume less fuel (or electricity, if our car is electric) during the hottest months, which we review and update with new data and habits that can help with the inflationary spiral we are experiencing these days.

Broadly speaking, it is advisable to keep the temperature inside the car between 21 and 23 degrees to avoid increasing fuel consumption. According to experts, driving at over 24 degrees reduces the driver's reaction and concentration abilities, and driving at a temperature equal to or higher than 35 degrees (a figure that many parts of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community have widely exceeded in the last month) is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.5 mg, as with so much heat the brain functions more slowly, reaction time increases, and fatigue and sleepiness that affect the driver appear much sooner.

According to DGT experts, the ideal temperature for driving is between 21 and 23 degrees, but if we set the air conditioning to a lower temperature, the cooling system will have to work at full capacity for longer, which increases fuel consumption. On a trip of more than 100 kilometers, the difference between driving with an adequate temperature or not can be practically one liter, depending on the model.

It is also important to remember the importance of using the air conditioning recirculation system correctly, which we explained a year ago. The operation of the vehicle's cooling or heating system is simple: when we turn it on, the car absorbs air from the outside, filters it, and cools (or heats) it to then allow it to enter the cabin. Once we feel comfortable in the cabin, it is advisable to activate the air recirculation function, which will allow us to reabsorb the air from the cabin itself, filter it again, and use it to circulate it again inside the car. This function also allows us to get rid of bad smells when we pass through an industrial area or a pig farm, for example.

Finally, it is also important to remember that we must not turn on the cooling system when we start driving. We must first start the vehicle's engine and lower the windows and drive a few meters to let fresh air circulate in the cabin.

Escape the sun

During the summer months, it is preferable to avoid driving during the central hours of the day, to avoid the moments of most solar radiation and heat inside the vehicle. Whenever possible, it is highly recommended to plan our trips for first thing in the morning or during the evening hours, to avoid the hottest hours and solar radiation. Furthermore, we may avoid traffic densities and traffic jams if we decide to drive very early during the summer months.

Another key element to combat the heat is to keep the car cool. Whenever possible, it is preferable to park in car parks where the sun does not shine, but if we have to park on the street, it is better to do so in shaded areas, where solar rays do not overheat the bodywork and the car's interior, which during the central hours of the day, and under direct sunlight, can reach temperatures of 40 or 50 degrees Celsius. If you cannot avoid parking in the sun, use sunshades or similar systems to try to keep the interior cool.

Finally, there is a method or trick to cool the bodywork when it is very hot. We can go to the nearest pressure car wash and give it a rinse with cold water, not so much to clean the car as to reduce the temperature of the bodywork. This practice is highly recommended if we have to make long trips with friends, family, or pets, as it will allow the car to be a little cooler when we start driving.

Rest and hydration

Although it may not seem like it, driving is a moderate physical activity, and we will need to be well hydrated when we are driving during the hottest months of the year. For this reason, it is essential to have a bottle of water at hand during the journey, taking small sips each time we rest (we will never drink while driving) and avoiding, as much as possible, the intake of energy drinks, sugary drinks, or coffee. 

It is also very important that we plan stops to rest, hydrate correctly, and stretch our legs every two hours at most, to avoid fatigue at the wheel and make the journey more enjoyable. In addition, it is highly recommended that we drive in loose and comfortable clothing, such as a tracksuit and cotton t-shirt, which allow our body to perspire correctly and do not cause us discomfort.