Germany is sweating and groaning – the thermometer is scratching the 30 degree mark in some places. For many, the ideal time to plan a jaunt into the mountains, to the lake or to the sea. Especially during this extreme heat, you should definitely avoid making important mistakes. This will save you a lot of stress and hassle.
Danger to life on the highways!
Given the intense heat, the concrete road surface could burst. So-called blow-ups are not uncommon and occur at temperatures of 30 degrees. The phenomenon occurs particularly on older motorways. Drivers can recognize the older concrete layer by the much lighter asphalt.
The ADAC emphasizes that such bulges and cracks in the road surface can be dangerous for motorists and motorcyclists because they occur unexpectedly and suddenly.
If the roadway bursts and a car drives over it at high speed, in the worst case this can lead to an accident and have unforeseeable consequences.
Drivers should therefore drive carefully and very attentively on hot days.
The distance to the vehicle in front should be significantly increased and the applicable speed limit must be observed.
The automatic switch-off usually takes effect when refueling. However, drivers often simply refill by holding out the so-called fuel nozzle a few centimetres.
At least one or two additional liters often jump out. During a heat wave, however, refilling is a very bad idea.
Diesel and petrol expand at high temperatures. If the tank is filled to the brim, fuel can leak out and damage the fuel cap.
On the one hand, this is a fire hazard and can also lead to expensive damage to the paintwork.
Before drivers switch on the engine, they should lead the warm air out of the interior. To do this, simply open all the windows and doors for about two to three minutes. Do not start the engine until the interior is well ventilated.
When drivers turn on the air conditioning, the air vents should not point at bare skin or the face. Cold air should only ever be directed to clothed areas. Dermatologists warn that the cold air can lead to muscle strains. In the worst case, an annoying cold threatens with fever, runny nose and cough.
The air conditioner should never be turned on full. The difference between inside and outside temperature should not be more than seven degrees.
This means that if the outside temperature is 30 degrees in the shade, drivers should set the air conditioning to a maximum of 23 degrees. Otherwise there is a nasty surprise when you get off. The body is surprised by the warm air and heat stroke occurs.
Make a quick turn to the supermarket, shop and then drive home as quickly as possible. In this case, children and dogs should not be left in the car “briefly”. According to the ADAC, in summer the car can become a deadly heat trap for them at worst. Children and animals should never be left in the car – not even for a short time.
The temperature there can quickly rise to 60 degrees Celsius. Leaving children or animals in the sun in a parked car can even endanger their lives.
Even open windows are irrelevant. The car club has made appropriate investigations. Cars of the same construction with differently opened windows at an outside temperature of 28 degrees achieved almost the same menacing values.
If the windows stayed closed, the temperature rose to 38 degrees after just ten minutes. And after 20 minutes the thermometer showed 45 degrees. In the car with two windows slightly rolled down, the values climbed to 36 and 42 degrees respectively. Well over 50 degrees were measured in both cars after an hour in the blazing sun.
Motorists should not park in direct sunlight. Workshops report particularly high levels of electronic damage during heat waves. According to automotive experts, components can reach temperatures of up to 90 degrees in extreme cases. Many control elements cannot cope with these high temperatures.
It is advisable to park in the shade or at least to clamp a sun protection behind the windshield. Sunbeams are thus reflected to the outside and the interior is spared. Good sun protection retails for between five and 30 euros. A current offer can be found here.
If you can’t find a parking space in the shade, you should at least clamp a sunshade behind the windshield, which reflects the sun’s rays and keeps the dashboard and steering wheel cool.
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