Summer is one of the best times of year to hit the road and enjoy the outdoors. Whether you’re the camping type, a sports or boating enthusiast, a pet lover, or just going about your daily chores; the yellow glow of the summer sun has a knack of making everything better.
But there are some things you need to be aware of to stay safe and maximise the fun.
… let me explain.
A couple of months ago, my wife and I decided to move out of our small two-bedroom home near Melbourne city in favour of a bigger, three-bedroom, home in the country.
Since moving we hadn’t had the time to stop and lap up the new surroundings (which is ironic since that was one of the reasons behind our move) so we stopped, opened the weather app on our phones, and to our delight found the forecast for the coming weekend was sunny.
Good so far, right?
Well anyway, the weekend rolls around and we throw our 2-year-old daughter gently place our 2-year-old-daughter in the back seat near the window and set off on our adventure.
We had a bunch of fun. This is me and my kid at Lake Wendouree, Ballarat at the END of what was a hot day.
But my child also experienced a fair bit of discomfort with the sun shining on her face during our drive.
No doubt you’ve experienced something like this before, too?
… you’re driving along and notice your kid(s) sweating up a storm in the back?!
Or for yourself, endured the unpleasant burn a steering wheel gives after a long period of being parked in the sun?
Well, with more days of 30+ degree forecast in some parts of Australia (that’s, over 90 degrees Fahrenheit for the U.S. folks), the team at Fit My Car thought we really should write up our top tricks and tips to have fun and stay safe on the roads this summer.
Vehicle Accessories: Here’s our list of must have’s / do’s …
Free
Park in the shade
Well, duh?!
The enemy of every parked car is the summer sun. And although it is common sense, one of the first things you can do to keep your car cool is plan your daily trip around an undercover car park, or find a spot under the shade. This is especially important during the hottest times of the day (between the hours of 1pm – 3pm) where the UV rays and position of the sun make for an unhappy car and driver.
You could also shop or explore for a shorter period and thereby reduce the amount of sun exposure your vehicle has, but its summer, right?! So just enjoy yourself.
Use your sun (head) visor
The sun visor is one of the only remedies to the dawn and (especially) the dusk sun. During those times of the day, the angle of sun will cause sunlight to shine more directly through the windows/windscreen and into the vehicle and make it difficult for you to see.
So in short, pull down the visor to increase the level of visibility you experience.
Pro-tip: unhook one side of the visor and swing it around to stop glare hitting the side of your face. You’re welcome.
Cost you a little
A good pair of shades
If you need to drive for a long period and or find yourself driving during dawn or dusk, a pair of sun glasses can help to significantly reduce the amount of strain on your eyes. It can be subtle or more extreme, but the glare of the sun shining:
- directly into your eyes,
- from the road,
- from other cars,
- from the dash,
- and even from the dash reflecting onto the windscreen (common in newer vehicles),
…will bring about some dreaded ‘eye squinting’. The squint you experience (especially on longer drives) is part of the reason why you might feel more tired than usual even though all you’ve been doing is sitting on your backside.
Window ‘Sox’ and Screens
Well-fitted window sox are an absolute life saver for every parent looking to protect their child from unnecessary heat and discomfort in the backseat. Most people who own a good one will tell you they reduce glare coming in from the rear side windows, are super practical on long drives, and can be the difference between 0 and multiple car seat nap times.
To fit one into any vehicle is easy. Simply roll down the window, slide the protector over the window like a glove and wind up the window again…. voilà!
Pro tip: if you’re looking buy, avoid going too cheap; it’s likely that the material quality isn’t great which will result in that ugly, flapping in the wind type effect.
Dash Mats
Dashboard mats and covers have been around for decades and for good reason … they reduce glare! As mentioned above, glare will hit your eyes differently during different times of the day as the sun rises and falls. The effect of which is different levels of light hitting down on your vehicle dash and back into your eyes, making it harder to see.
Another factor can even the type of car you drive. In some newer cars, for example, the width of the dashboard is wider which means the total reflective surface area is greater.
More Reflective Area = More Glare
Pro tip: when choosing a dash mat, opt for material with less* highlights (fibres that look shiny) as these little suckers will also reflect some light from the sun.
*dash mats are made of a synthetic material, so just about all mats will have ‘shiny fibres’ in them. The benefits of synthetic include a lifetime guarantee against shrinking and fading, but there will likely be some shiny fibres in there too. So if you’re looking at buying a dash mat, the one with less shiny fibres will be your best bet.
Bumper Protector
If you own a set of golf clubs, are a parent/carer with a pram, or own any other large object that frequently goes in and out of a car boot… sit up and take notice.
There’s a great little product out there to help you stop your bumper from getting scratched. It’s called a Bumper Protector and as the name suggests it is designed to defend your vehicle’s rear bumper against damage from items going in and out of your boot space.
Here’s how it works: the product is relatively small and folds away neatly in your boot for easy storage. When you need to add / remove luggage or cargo, simply extend the mat out over the bumper (takes 2 seconds) to form a barrier between the bumper and the cargo. The upper-side of the protector will allow you slide the goods in and out, while the rubbery underside will protect the vehicle.
This little wonder is handy all year round, but may be even more so useful during summer when outdoor activities and social events really start to kick off.
Cost you a bit more
Tinted windows
When you bought a car you’ve no doubt be given a slew of add-ons and options at a cost. It’s a sales pitch, and the temptation is to tune out because in the digital age we already know what we want, right?
Pro-tip: Don’t tune out!
Tinted windows are a handy way to reduce the impact from the sun.
More specifically, the tint can help to decrease some UV light from entering the car, thereby increasing the level of protection against cancer. According to a recent article from the Cancer Council Australia, tinted windows are a recommended product for people who drive often (like sales people and truck drivers) so if you spend a quite a few hours in your car each week, tinted windows may be worth checking out.
Boot/Cargo Liner
A good boot liner is a bit like a government spy – it has multiple aliases and each identity has a knack at getting the job done.
Ok, so that was a bit dramatic but my point is boot liners’ also go by multiple names. You might have heard of …
- Cargo Liners
- Tub Liners
- Bed Liners
And each of them (because they’re all the same thing) will protect your car boot against spills, dirt, pets, and whatever else you can throw at it. It will also protect your cargo from damage caused by slipping around in the tub as the rubber like material provides some grip to the cargo above it.
Typically this type of product suits trades people (carpenters, plumbers, plasterers etc) and the DIY crowd. However in reality it suits anyone who has vehicle tub (or bed, for the U.S. folk) and require some form of cargo protection.
Pro-tip: if you’re in the market for a cargo liner, choose a moulded option that suits the contours and shape of your boot area. Doing so will ensure a better a look AND help to protect all the nooks-and-corners of your boot against damage.
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