Summer car safety tips
Summer is the perfect time to pack up the car and hit the open road. Whether you’re taking a quick trip to the beach or cruising down the highway, stay summer-safe with these handy car safety tips.
Park in the shade
When your car is parked in the sun, the interior can become very warm. Try to look for parking spots in the shade, especially if you’re leaving your car there for a while.
When there aren’t any shady spots free, sun shades for your windscreen can be extremely helpful. Protect your dashboard and steering wheel by placing the sun shade over your windscreen. The reflective surface also reduces the temperature of your car.
Watch out for overheated seat belts
In summer, your seat belt buckle can be a potential safety hazard, especially if it’s spent the better half of the day in direct sunlight. When getting into the car, make sure you take extra caution when doing up your seat belt. If you have children, it might be safer to do up their belts for them.
Before you drive off into the sunset, check that your steering wheel hasn’t also been affected by the summer heat. It might be worth keeping a steering wheel cover in the car. That way if your steering wheel overheats, you can just pop it on and head off!
Securely pack your car for road trips
Summer means going on fun family road trips! Wherever your destination, make sure your car is packed securely. A carefully packed car ensures objects don't move around and that the essentials, like food and water, are easily accessible. When taking a long road trip, ensure you have plenty of water packed in the car – an Esky in the backseat will keep your food nice and cool.
Hot tip! Keep your hats and sunscreen at the top of the pile. There’s nothing worse than stopping over to have some fun in the sun and having to unpack the entire car!
Don’t forget roadside assistance
If you’re heading out on a road trip (or if you simply use your car a lot), make sure you can get help if your car breaks down*! If you have an AAMI Comprehensive Car Insurance policy, you can consider adding AAMI Roadside Assist, for an additional premium.
AAMI Roadside Assist is a dedicated emergency roadside assistance service for your car. This service offers 24 hour roadside assistance Australia-wide. It can help you with changing a flat tyre, towing your car to the nearest accredited repairer and more.
Keep in mind that CTP Insurance – known as a Green Slip in NSW, and TAC in VIC – is mandatory for all vehicles registered in Australia. So, even if you opt out of other car insurance policies, you’ll still need CTP to be allowed to drive. Get a CTP quote today.
Prep a car emergency kit
You should always keep an emergency kit in your car, even if you’re not planning a roadtrip. New to building one? Here’s a checklist.
Do a car maintenance check
Summertime is a great time to do routine car checks or maintenance. Here’s a handy guide to get you started.
Don't leave kids or animals in the car
Even if it’s a quick stop off, make sure you never leave kids or pets unattended in the car. Parking in the shade isn’t enough to keep your car at a safe temperature. Be ready to take them with you on all stops of your journey.
Keep your eyes on the road
Make sure you’ve got a pair of polarised sunnies ready in the glove box. You'll need them for early mornings and late afternoons during sunset. If the sun begins to obstruct your vision, flip down your sun visor and keep a safe distance between you and the car in front.
Slather on the sunscreen
You may think you don’t need sunscreen in the shade, but UVA and UVB rays can penetrate through standard car windows.
Get some UV filters installed if your windows aren’t equipped with them. Or just slather on some sunscreen before your drive.
Car-safe sunscreens
Opt for a non-greasy formula so you can maintain a good grip on the steering wheel. And don’t just store it in your glovebox! Sunscreens lose effectiveness over time when stored at high temperatures. Throw it in your portable cooler instead, or just apply some before you leave home.
Child-safe sunscreens
Kids and babies have delicate skin. So, always use age-appropriate sun protection products – they’re often formulated for sensitive skin and free of harsh chemicals.
Read more:
- 17 things to put in your car emergency kit
- How to check your tyres: are they roadworthy?
- How to avoid driver fatigue
*AAMI Roadside Assist is an Optional Cover only available in conjunction with AAMI Comprehensive Car Insurance. Terms and conditions for coverage apply.
Insurance is issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as AAMI. Any advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situation or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it. Please read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before you make any decision regarding this product. The Target Market Determination is also available.
The information is intended to be of general nature only. Subject to any rights you may have under any law, we do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss or damage, including loss of business or profits or any other indirect loss, incurred as a result of reliance upon the information. Please make your own enquiries.
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