I. General Safe Driving Knowledge
In summer, regularly check your vehicle’s technical condition, focusing on safety-critical parts, and never drive a faulty vehicle. Before driving in summer, ensure you have had sufficient rest and sleep to stay energetic, and never drive while fatigued. In hot weather, control your speed and avoid prolonged high-speed driving to prevent overheating of the engine or tires. Stay alert to non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians; be cautious of them suddenly crossing the road to seek shade.
II. Preventing Engine Overheating
During summer driving, constantly monitor the water temperature gauge—generally, it should not exceed 95°C. This is especially important when the vehicle is fully loaded or driving in mountainous areas, where extra care is needed to prevent engine overheating. If the temperature rises too high, promptly stop in a shaded area to cool down. You can lift the hood to help ventilate and dissipate heat. Once the temperature has dropped, check whether the engine cooling system is low on water and investigate the cause of the high temperature.
If the coolant boils due to engine overheating or lack of water, do not shut off the engine immediately. Instead, let it idle to cool down. After the temperature drops, turn off the engine and then carefully open the radiator cap using a cloth or gloves to protect your hands and face from scalding steam.
III. Monitoring Tire Temperature
Avoid driving for too long in summer. Take appropriate breaks every two hours or after covering a certain distance, and use the time to check tire temperature. If you notice that the tires have become overinflated due to heat, park the vehicle in a shaded or tree-covered area to allow the tires to cool and deflate naturally. Never release air or pour cold water on them to reduce pressure or temperature. Additionally, try to avoid sudden braking and never overload your vehicle.
IV. Avoiding Fatigue While Driving
Driving in the hot summer weather or in an overheated cabin makes it easy to feel fatigued due to high temperatures and poor ventilation. Drivers often experience mental exhaustion, blurred vision, and sluggish thinking—especially during afternoon or midnight drives, drowsiness can easily set in, or even momentary memory loss may occur. Driving while overly tired significantly increases the risk of accidents. In hot weather, keep the cabin well-ventilated and maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity. If you feel fatigued, stop and rest promptly—never force yourself to continue driving.
V. Greater Dangers of Drunk Driving in Summer
In summer, due to the hot weather and elevated body temperature, alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed throughout the body more quickly, with the brain being the most affected. Alcohol numbs the brain, impairing the function of various bodily systems. This leads to reduced concentration, impaired perception and judgment of external hazards, narrowed field of vision, slower reaction times, clumsier movements, and less precise vehicle control. In emergencies, this results in inaccurate braking and evasive maneuvers. In severe cases, it can cause extreme excitement, loss of emotional control, and risky behaviors such as speeding, aggressive overtaking, running red lights, or ignoring traffic signals—all of which significantly raise the risk of accidents and even hit-and-run incidents.
VI. Refusing to Speed
In hot summer conditions, road surfaces are hotter, and asphalt roads may become oily or soft, increasing driving resistance. Speeding with a heavy load leads to intense friction between tires and the road surface, causing tires to overheat and potentially blow out. Rain after such conditions also heightens the risk of skidding. Moreover, speeding increases psychological stress—higher speeds lead to greater pressure and more impatience, sometimes resulting in sweaty palms, operational mistakes, and ultimately traffic accidents.
VII. Exercise Extra Caution When Driving at Night
Before driving at night in summer, inspect all vehicle lights and mirrors to ensure they are functioning properly and clean. At night, use high beams when driving over 30 km/h; for speeds under 30 km/h, low beams are suitable. When meeting other vehicles at night, switch between high and low beams at a distance to observe the road ahead. When an oncoming vehicle is within 150 meters, switch to low beams promptly. Avoid looking directly at the bright headlights of approaching vehicles. When driving through urban areas, villages, or bridges, slow down and stay alert to pedestrians walking or resting along the roadsides or on bridges. Be prepared for any emergencies.
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