As a driving instructor, spending hours of each day in your car during these periods can be uncomfortable and sometimes even dangerous, with an increased risk of fatigue and dehydration.
At CA Cars, we’ve spent 40 years selling and leasing cars to driving instructors in the UK, and many members of our team are former instructors themselves. This means we have a thorough understanding of the conditions driving instructors work in, so we’ve put together some top tips for driving during a heatwave.
How hot is too hot to drive?
There is no legal or advisory limit when it comes to driving during a heatwave. However, many studies show that driving for long periods of time at temperatures of more than 35℃ can cause increased fatigue, slower reaction times and a bigger risk of dehydration. While these temperatures are rare in the UK, they’re not unheard of, so this is worth bearing in mind during prolonged periods of high heat.
Driving lesson tips during a heatwave
If your livelihood relies on you conducting your driving lessons, you may not want to cancel your students entirely, even during a heatwave. There are a few things you can do to mitigate the heat:
Hydrate often
Having a bottle of water in the car and drinking regularly between lessons is one of the best ways to minimise the chance of dehydration. You should also encourage your students to bring water bottles along with them during these periods. If you usually drink coffee or energy drinks, you may want to avoid these in a heatwave as they can contribute to dehydration.
Manage interior temperatures
A car can get uncomfortably hot very quickly in a heatwave. Before starting a lesson, make sure your air conditioning system is working properly to keep things cool.
Protect your vision
Bright sunlight can make it harder to spot hazards and makes it easier to miscalculate stopping distances, something that is even more dangerous if a learner is behind the wheel. Wear good quality sunglasses that reduce glare and protect your eyes from UV rays.
Be aware of fatigue
You can get more tired more quickly during periods of hot weather, so try and be aware of this. If you find yourself yawning more frequently or losing concentration during lessons, it could be a sign you’re becoming fatigued.
Take regular breaks
Try and build more breaks into your schedule than usual. You might want to organise fewer lessons than normal to give yourself a bit of recovery time between them and to ensure you have plenty to drink.
Signs your car is overheating
Hot weather can also put extra strain on your vehicle. Signs of an overheating car include:
- The temperature gauge is higher than normal
- Warning lights are showing on the dashboard
- Steam is coming from under the bonnet
- Air conditioning is not working properly
If you’re a driving instructor looking for a reliable vehicle in the summer, and all year round, CA Cars is here to help. We offer modern cars available to buy or lease, all equipped with air conditioning and dual controls to make teaching your students as easy and comfortable as possible. To find out more or to place an order, get in touch today.
See our full range of dual-control cars for hire and dual-control cars for sale.
