Don’t get hot and bothered, here is some summer motoring advice

Now that the Great British summer has finally arrived, here are some warm weather safety tips from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman.

• Safety first. When travelling try to always plan your journey. Check the tread and pressure of your tyres.

• Stay hydrated! We recommend having plenty of water as it is essential for maintaining blood circulation throughout the body and helps control the body temperature. Keep a bottle in the car.

• When driving, concentration starts to slip after two hours so have a breather and take regular 15-minute breaks. Get out of the car and stretch. It helps fight fatigue.

• When driving into the direction of the sun, use your sun visor to help block out the glare. If that doesn’t work, invest in a decent pair of sunglasses.

• Protect your skin and apply an SPF sun cream as it is useful for protecting parts of skin we can’t shade. This is especially important in a convertible. You may not feel the sun as the breeze can be pleasant but you may still burn.

• Put together an emergency kit; some drinks and snacks, a charger for your mobile phone and a road map for last minute detours are all useful items. Some entertainment for your younger passengers may make the journey less stressful.

Richard said: ”Don’t forget how hot your car can be even after a short time when stationary. Children and pets don’t respond well to the raised temperature when in a confined space. Never leave them in an unattended car as they can become unwell very quickly. Plan your journey with comfort breaks for all of your passengers including your pets.”