Summer Heat Car Accidents and How to Avoid Them

When most people think of dangerous driving conditions, they think of blizzards and icy roads. However, based on research, summer heat car accidents are just as, if not more, dangerous.

In fact, studies have shown a positive correlation between extreme heat and fatal car accidents. As extreme temperatures and heat waves increase in frequency because of climate change, drivers face unique challenges on the road that increase the likelihood of collisions.

Summer Car Accident Statistics

It’s proven by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and global studies that car accidents do increase during the summer months.

With more road trips, increased traffic volume, and novice drivers on the road, the number of accidents due to heat-related problems skyrockets.

Drivers also drive faster on warm days, which contributes to the dangers. The result? An increase in the number of automobile accidents, even fatal automobile accidents, during heatwaves.

Hidden Hazards of Warm-Weather Driving

Summer driving may appear to be less stressful than winter driving, but hot weather brings hidden dangers that can significantly affect driver performance and vehicle safety:

Heat Exhaustion & Fatigue: Hot weather increases health risks such as dehydration and fatigue, leading to lapses in judgment.

Tire Pressure Issues: Extreme heat can cause tire blowouts, especially if tires are under-inflated.

Engine Overheating: Vehicles are more likely to overheat in hot weather, leaving drivers stranded in unsafe conditions.

Air Conditioning Strain: Overuse of the vehicle’s air conditioning can lead to mechanical issues. If AC fails, drivers are at higher risk for heat-related accidents.

Driver Behaviour: Alcohol consumption, long road trips, are all contributing factors to negative effects on driving.

Why More Car Accidents Occur in Summer Than in Winter

Several factors are responsible for the increase in accidents during the summer months:

Traffic Density: Larger volumes of vacationers mean congested roadways.

Higher Risk of Young Drivers : New drivers are more likely to be on the road when schools are closed.

Intense Heat : Heat stroke and fatigue impair judgment and reaction times and raise the risk of car accidents.

Driving Conditions: Clear days and long daylight hours encourage higher speeds, which can turn minor fender-benders into fatal automobile collisions.

Vehicle Stress : Overheating engines and blown tires are common in extreme heat.

In short, winter might get icy roads, but summer heat silently creates heat-related hazards that are just as dangerous to motor vehicle operators and increased risk of collisions caused.

Causes of Summer Heat-Related Car Accidents

Some of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents that often occur in summer include, but are not limited to:

Heat-Related Vehicle Problems

Heat-related collisions tend to be caused by a combination of human and environmental factors. Some common causes include:

Driver Fatigue

Driver fatigue due to extended driving hours and high temperatures.

Which can cause medical hazards such as dizziness, dehydration, or fainting caused by heat exhaustion.

Impaired Driving

Summer is generally the season of social events where alcohol comes into play. This increases impaired driving and causes deadly car accidents.

More Motorcycles

The occurrences of motorcycle traffic increase during the summer months. Motorcycles are more difficult to notice, less stable, and offer less protection than automobiles, increasing the likelihood of deadly automobile accidents.

The higher occurrences of motorcycles on roadways increase the natural likelihood of severe collisions.

Teen Drivers

Teenage drivers are on the road more frequently in the summer, driving to summer employment or road trips with friends. Although inexperience increases the risk of driver error, reaction times and concentration are already impaired in warm weather.

Summer Driving Safety Tips

The proactive measures to take our:

• Monitor tire pressure regularly to avoid blowouts.
• Keep your vehicle’s cooling and air-conditioning system in good condition.
• Avoid driving during heat waves when high temperatures diminish concentration.
• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent heat exhaustion and drowsiness.
• Never drink and drive.
• And take special care around motorcyclists and teenage drivers.

Contact Our Car Accident Lawyer If You Seek Legal Help

If you or your loved one was injured by a summer heat-related automobile collision, you deserve compensation. Our experienced team has handled clients in car collisions, fatal crashes, and heat-related vehicular cases throughout Ontario. We understand the negative effect of excessive heat on road conditions and can assist you in pursuing justice.

Contact our Ontario car accident lawyers today at Grillo Law for a free consultation and learn how we can protect your rights.