Safe driving in summer
In cooperation with the Verkehrsschule Zug, we present various traffic situations under the heading “From the field”. In 2018 we will introduce you to the four seasons with their respective characteristics, pitfalls, and dangers with regard to driving.
Sven Meier, President of the Verkehrsschule Zug, provides information on traffic rules and situations. Do you have questions or uncertainties? Do not hesitate to contact him and you will receive competent information from a professional.
What happens in the car?
Sunshine, good visibility, pleasant road conditions. In summer, driving a car seems easier in many ways. But the sometimes-intense heat in the car is a problem for us. Therefore, the heated car should be well ventilated with the doors and windows open before starting the journey. Then the air conditioner will provide a good remedy if we first switch the system to recirculated air, so that no hot air is supplied from outside. Furthermore, the difference between the inside and outside temperature should not be too great. Experts advise a maximum difference of six degrees.
If you park your car in the blazing sun, you not only have to expect hot air and red-hot seat belts, but in extreme cases you may also suffer electronic damage. The components are designed for temperatures between minus 40 and plus 85 degrees – a value that can easily be exceeded at the height of summer. Due to thermal expansion and subsequent cooling in the airstream, hairline cracks can form in the circuit boards. Then there is the risk of control unit failure and the vehicle coming to a standstill. If you cannot find a parking space in the shade, you should at least put a sunscreen behind the windscreen and avoid filling up your car in very hot weather. Because at high outside temperatures petrol and diesel expand. If the tank is then filled to the brim, it threatens to overflow. This increases the risk of fire.
What happens around the car?
In summer, the many construction sites make driving a car a test of patience. Because in summer, the road builders have their peak season. It is hardly surprising that a lot of construction and renovation work is carried out on our roads at this time of year. Furthermore, summertime also means holiday time and thus a lower traffic volume in certain places, which, however, plays a subordinate role in the planning of construction sites.
The pleasant temperatures and the long summer days attract us more and more out of the house, and we explore the surroundings on foot or with our single-lane vehicles such as bicycles or motorbikes. These different road users require increased attention on the road. Distraction by phone, texting, smoking, or eating while driving can have serious consequences.
