Summer in Los Angeles is hot. You may be wondering if the intense heat adds any risks to your daily drives. Let’s discuss what you should know about driving on days when it’s much warmer than usual.
Heat-Related Driving Risks
There are a few ways that heat can impact drivers and their vehicles.
First, heat damage to car parts. Heat beating down on your vehicle can cause some wear to certain mechanisms. For example, the ideal running temperature for a car battery is 80 degrees. On hot summer days in California, the temperature on the battery can be over 100 degrees. This increases the chances of your battery overheating, corroding or shortening its life.
Intense heat can also affect:
- Tires
- Oil
- The car’s cooling system
- Gas
- Power steering
If the heat does enough damage to these parts, your car could malfunction and potentially cause an accident.
Another heat-related risk is heat fatigue for drivers. Sometimes called heat exhaustion, this occurs when a driver is overheated and often dehydrated. This can cause them to suffer numerous physical symptoms such as:
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Headache
- Dizziness
These effects of heat fatigue are dangerous for drivers, as the symptoms may inhibit their ability to operate the vehicle safely.
Other Summer Driving Risks To Know
Heat damage and heat fatigue are two warm-weather risks for drivers and their vehicles. However, there are other driving risks to be mindful of this season.
- DUI and Underage DUI: Incidents of DUI tend to increase over the summer, specifically on holiday weekends. Be mindful of this if you must travel at peak DUI times like weekend nights.
- Travelers: The world is opening back up and more people are taking the opportunity to travel. With more people out and about, there are more drivers on the road that could pose a risk.
- Others on the road: Look out for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, animals, and children who could all be hard to spot or anticipate.
Personal Injury Attorneys in Los Angeles, California
If you are injured in an accident this summer, our team at Martinian & Associates Inc. wants to help you secure the compensation you deserve. We don’t shy away from complicated cases, and we will fight aggressively to make sure the responsible party is held liable for their role in the accident. Contact our team today to discuss the details of your injury case so we can learn more about how to best assist you.
