With parts of the UK set to see warm weather and temperatures of 24C over the weekend, motorists have been advised to remove four common items from their cars to help prevent serious damage.
While this week has been a little cooler after last week’s scorching 29C heat, The Met Office has predicted more warm sunshine on the way this Saturday and Sunday for much of the UK, especially in England, with 24C conditions forecast by the Met Office on Saturday and 22C on Sunday and Monday.
As a result, drivers are being urged to remove anything in their car which could pose a risk in such hot sunny conditions.
Bottled water
Whilst it is important to stay hydrated on long road trips, particularly with 24C heat expected, drivers should take care with where they put bottles of water and avoid leaving them in their car when unattended. This is because the hot temperatures typically experienced inside cars that are parked in direct sunlight can cause chemicals to escape from the plastic bottle and into the water it is holding, making it dangerous to drink. In more extreme heat, bottles of water that are visible from the window could magnify sunlight onto interior components such as the carpet or seats, creating the risk of a fire.
Fizzy drinks
Fizzy drinks are also dangerous if left in cars – as they can explode. The heat, combined with the pressurised container, leads to metal shearing and drinks bursting all over car interiors. This can shatter glass, and damage car seats and other parts of the inside.
Sun cream
Another necessity for hot spells, sun cream may stop drivers from burning in the heat, but can ruin a vehicle interior if it is left in plain sight.
Much like water, plastic bottles containing suncream can become brittle and cause a buildup of pressure, which can ultimately lead to the suncream exploding onto the interior.
In many cases, exposure to high temperatures can also make the sun cream much less effective, meaning it will not protect users from the sun.
Medicine
A wide range of popular medicines, including paracetamol and other forms of painkillers, can also become less effective after being left inside a hot car.
Whilst the tablets may still look normal, exposure to a hot climate can cause ingredients to act differently. Many medical experts suggest drivers should act on the side of caution and avoid taking medicines that have been left inside their car.
To find out if a driver is able to leave a type of medication inside their car, they should read the instructions inside the packet, which often state the maximum temperature at which they can be stored.
Battery-powered electrical devices
Whilst many motorists avoid leaving expensive electronic devices in their car due to the risk of them being stolen, items that use a battery can also cause damage to the interior in sunny weather.
Items such as smartphones, MP3 players, cameras and laptops all feature incredibly dense battery packs that, in most cases, should not be left in temperatures above 40 degrees.
Whilst exposure to these temperatures can make devices less effective, losing charge at a much faster rate, they may catch fire in particularly hot weather.