Today we are going to talk about the things that you should remember about summer driving and how you can stay safe.
At Hansma Automotive, we have over 25 years of experience in the automotive repair industry and we'd love to share our expertise with you.
Let’s take a look at some of the dangers of summer driving and how you can avoid them.
Learn these great summer driving safety tips
Summer Driving Tips
Click on the following links to go to each section.
How to prepare your car for summer driving
How to avoid having your engine overheat
How to avoid a tire blowout
What to do if an animal crosses your path
How to share the road with motorcyclists
How to pass a bicycle
How to handle construction zones
How to drive in the rain
How to prepare your car for summer driving
Summertime is the perfect time to take a road trip, but here are some things that you should do to make sure your vehicle is in great shape.
1. Remove your winter tires and put on your summer ones.
2. Check your tire pressure to make sure that they are properly inflated.
3. Get your air conditioner topped up and make sure that it is working efficiently.
4. Make sure you have enough washer fluid and that your wipers are in good condition.
5. Top up your fluid levels such as your oil, coolant, brake and transmission fluids.
6. Give your car a good cleaning inside and out.
Remove your winter tires and put on your summer ones
How to avoid having your engine overheat
Extreme summer heat can affect your vehicle's engine. Here are some tips to prevent your engine from overheating
1. Get your oil changed as often as recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer.
2. Make sure your air conditioning is working properly.
3. Frequently check your engine coolant level, as well as your hoses, and belts.
4. If you think that your engine is starting to overheat, turn off the A/C and turn on the heater.
5. If your car is definitely overheating, pull over in a safe spot, turn off your engine, and call for assistance. Make sure you wait for at least 30 minutes before you attempt to restart your engine.
Learn how to check your car’s fluid levels
How to avoid a tire blowout
A tire blowout is a dangerous summer driving hazard. Here are some things that you can do to avoid experiencing one.
1. Regularly check your tire pressure and pay attention to your car's tire pressure monitor sensor if you have one. Both over and under-inflated tires can cause a blowout.
2. Try to avoid potholes if possible.
3. Get your tires inspected for bulges, cracks, punctures, and low tread.
4. Purchase new tires if yours are worn out.
While summer driving, try to avoid potholes
What to do if an animal crosses your path
If an animal crosses in front of your car, it is best to stay in your lane. Don't swerve into oncoming traffic. Stay calm and slow down as quickly as possible.
If it is safe to do so, you can steer your vehicle to the right of the road toward the shoulder. An animal will instinctively speed up and continue on its chosen path, so moving to the right should help you avoid hitting it.
Moving to the right and slowing day will work whether the animal is crossing on your side of the road or from the opposite side. Either way you will be moving further away from the animal.
If an animal crosses your lane, stay calm and try to slow down as quickly as possible
How to Share the Road with motorcyclists
You will tend to encounter more motorcyclists during summer driving. Here are some tips to follow for your safety and theirs.
1. Keep a greater distance between you and the motorcycle than you would between you and another car. Motorcycles can stop faster than cars so you will need more stopping space.
2. When you are making a left/right turn or changing lanes, check your blind spots multiple times as it can be hard to see a motorcycle.
3. Make sure you take off your high beams when a motorcycle is approaching as high beams are more blinding for motorcyclists.
Keep a greater distance between your vehicle and a motorcycle
How to pass a bicycle
When you are summer driving you will also encounter a lot more bicyclists. You need to take necessary precautions when passing a bicycle.
1. Be patient and only pass a bicycle when you have enough space to give at least 3 feet of clearance.
2. Look behind you before opening your car door when you are parked on a street.
3. When you are making a left/right turn or changing lanes, check your blind spots multiple times to make sure there isn't an oncoming bicycle.
4. Be familiar with local bicycle rules.
Check your blind spots for cyclists
How to handle construction zones
One of the biggest headaches with summer driving is all of the construction zones that you will encounter. Here are some helpful tips to remember when going through construction zones.
1. Slow down. Even though they are a huge annoyance, you need to make sure that you slow down to the posted speeds and be extra vigilant while watching for workers and heavy equipment.
2. If there is a person stopping and starting traffic with a sign, make sure that you carefully watch them and obey their directions. When you are allowed to pass, do so cautiously and at a slow speed.
3. Watch for shifts in lanes and carefully navigate into your correct lane. If you are driving through a construction site at night be especially vigilant to make sure that you are in the correct lane especially if it is raining as this will greatly decrease your visibility.
4. Be careful when you are merging lanes. Do not wait until the last minute and try to barge your way over. Start indicating at least 3 seconds before you start to change lanes and take at least 7 seconds to make the lane change constantly checking your mirrors and blinds spots as you move over.
Reduce your speed through construction zones
How to drive in the rain
One of the greatest hazards of summer driving is having to drive in the rain, especially when there are downpours. Here are some tips to make driving in the rain a bit safer.
1. Slow down so that you will have more time to react, especially if you need to stop suddenly.
2. Prepare yourself for hydroplaning. Stay calm; don't make any sudden moves with the steering wheel or brake. Take your foot off the gas and steer in the direction you want to go.
3. Avoid going through large puddles that might splash water up into your car's electrical system.
4. Stay back from larger vehicles that can spray water at you, hindering your visibility.
5. Pull over if you are having trouble seeing.
For a more in-depth look at how to drive safely in the rain, check out this article.
The following video will show you a great technique for what to do if you are hydroplaning.
If you start hydroplaning, don’t slam on the brakes
Hansma Can Help You Get Your Car Ready for Summer Driving
If you live in the Kitchener-Waterloo region and you want to make sure that your car is well-maintained and ready for summer driving, Hansma Automotive can help. You can trust Hansma with all of your car maintenance and repairs.
As a Tech-Net professional auto repair facility, Hansma Automotive is committed to serving you, our customer, with professional auto service at a reasonable cost.
We use quality CARQUEST auto parts, guaranteed coast to coast. We stand on sound business principles and uphold high ethical standards. Our goal is to make your automotive repair experience friendly and successful.
By providing good, old-fashioned customer service over the years, Hansma Automotive has gained a loyal following in the community.
Many hundreds of area residents have come to depend on our team and the technical expertise of our friendly staff to keep their family vehicles in peak running condition. We are conveniently located at 88 Shoemaker St., Kitchener, ON, N2E 3G4. Book an appointment now.
““Great place, friendly staff and the only place I trust my car with now. I highly recommend this place. Trustworthy”
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