Drivers up and down the country are being warned to avoid parking on their driveways this weekend, unless it happens to be covered or shaded.
The UK “mini-heatwave” that swept much of the country has cooled off slightly this week following the bank holiday, but just a few days ago it was so hot that things were exploding in people’s cars parked on their driveway.
One unlucky driver failed to heed advice to remove items from their car and found their fizzy drinks had exploded in the boot in the hot sun right there on their driveway.
And this weekend coming, the Met Office is predicting warmer weather is set to return again, with temperatures set to hit 23C in parts of England on Saturday, and 22C on Monday and Tuesday, meaning drivers face fresh battles with hot cars parked outside their houses.
Urgent advice from car experts says drivers should avoid parking on their driveway or on the road outside their house in a bid to try to keep their car cool unless it’s shaded by trees.
Scrap Car Comparison says: “Of course, the best place to park during extremely hot weather is in the shade! If you’re lucky enough to own a garage, it’s absolutely worth clearing out the bits and bobs you’ve got stored in there so that you can park your vehicle inside, away from the harmful rays of the sun.
“Failing that, try to park it in a shady spot. Annoyingly, everyone will have the same idea on a hot day, so cool parking spaces will be hard to come by. Unless they’re on the far side of a car park or under a tree filled with pigeons, that is… do we need to explain why?”
Breakdown experts at the RAC said: “Parking in the shade – perhaps under a tree or canopy – is one easy way to prevent your car heating up.
“If you have a garage, then use it. It will keep your car cool, clean and secure.”
Other advice on keeping your car cool includes closing the top vents inside your car while the aircon cools down, and then shutting windows and reopening the vents once your car has cooled.
It will also save you fuel because you don’t need to max the aircon as soon as you get inside the car, as it will start off from a much cooler temperature inside when you set off.
It’s not just the car you need to protect, though – it’s the driveway too, particularly if it’s made of asphalt. Parking a heavy car on a paved or asphalt drive during a hot sunny day can lead to damage on the driveway.
Hicks Paving says: “Asphalt is made from a mix of binder and aggregate (stone). When the weather gets extremely hot, the binder can dry out and become brittle.
“This drying out weakens the entire structure of the asphalt, making it more likely to crack and form potholes. As the binder loses its flexibility, the asphalt can no longer hold up well under the pressure of heavy vehicles, leading to more serious damage over time.
“Asphalt naturally expands and contracts with changes in temperature. However, in the intense summer heat, it can expand too much, putting extra stress on the pavement.
“Over time, this repeated stress from the excessive heat can cause cracks of different sizes to appear. These cracks can start small, but if left unchecked, they can grow larger and cause more significant problems, like potholes and uneven surfaces.
“Asphalt absorbs a lot of heat from the sun. This can make parked cars extremely hot, to the point where touching them can be uncomfortable or even painful.
“The intense heat can also damage the interiors of cars, causing materials like dashboards and seats to crack or fade over time. This reflective heat can even make the area around the asphalt feel much hotter, affecting the comfort of people walking nearby.”