Britain’s drivers have been warned about some of the dos and don’ts of driving in the summer by one of its most renowned and famous motoring organisations.
Said organisation is the RAC which has released a series of clarifications for motorists on myths and rules of summer driving.
During the summer, some drivers may be confused about what exactly they are allowed to do and not to do, including whether they can drive while wearing swimming trunks.
However, the RAC also covered the incredibly serious topic of being fit to drive, warning drivers they could be in deep trouble in a particular scenario.
In an article addressing some of important dos and don’ts of summer driving, they gave statements before responding whether they were true or false.
One statement they addressed was whether someone could sleep in their car if they had drunken too much alcohol. They said this was false. On why it was false, they explained that drivers could still be charged, but that also they could be doing themselves harm even if there was no-one there to charge them.
They said: “Although sleeping in your car may seem like the responsible option, you could still be charged with being ‘drunk in charge’ of a vehicle if you’re over the legal alcohol limit.
“Factors such as where you’re sitting, whether you have access to the keys and whether you could realistically drive the vehicle may all be considered by police. Also, during the summer months, a car can become dangerously hot to sleep in, so it could end up being both illegal and lethal.”
This isn’t the only time in recent weeks that the RAC has commented on staying safe in the car as the UK continues to bounce from one heatwave to another, seeing the mercury rise close to and above 30C.
Although some part of the UK will get a brief break from the warm weather, the Met Office has said hotter conditions will return to the south soon. They said: “Many parts of England and Wales are likely to return to the mid to high twenties Celsius early next week, with the potential for temperatures to reach 30°C again in southern and eastern England by Tuesday.”
When it comes to safety in the car, in a statement earlier this month, the RAC’s breakdown spokesperson Simon Williams encouraged all drivers to keep summer essentials in the car.
Mr Williams explained: “Carrying an emergency kit in case of getting stuck at the side of the road is essential. This should include plenty of water, sunscreen, a large umbrella to protect from the sun and portable battery pack to keep mobile phones charged.
“It’s also common in such high temperatures for tyre pressures to increase significantly, triggering dashboard warning lights. We urge drivers not to deflate tyres as this is likely to lead to having too little pressure the next morning when it’s cooler.”