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Driving in the heat during Operation Exit: the effects of high temperatures that harm drivers

Driving in the heat during Operation Exit: the effects of high temperatures that harm drivers

High temperatures have a direct impact on both the physical and mental abilities of drivers. This Friday, Operation Exit 2025, the summer holiday season, launched, and with it, thousands of people took to the roads of Spain to reach their vacation destinations. The problem is that the heat is intense during this time, so extreme precautions must be taken, in addition to following the usual advice and warnings.

Dehydration and fainting are phenomena associated with heat that are very harmful to health. Not only that, but excessively high temperatures can damage some mechanical components, such as wheels or rubber parts.

But does heat have any harmful effects that particularly affect drivers? Yes, because many consequences of high temperatures impair the skills needed to maintain a safe level of attention behind the wheel .

Among other effects, high temperatures can cause exhaustion, nausea, and dehydration , as well as increasing the risk of cramps ... which, while generally harmful, can cause accidents with serious consequences when driving.

The effects of heat on conduction

When it comes to driving, heat primarily affects reflexes and the feeling of fatigue . High temperatures while driving lead to fatigue and drowsiness , which is very dangerous on the road. Furthermore, these physiological phenomena lengthen the driver's reaction time to driving stimuli, so any unforeseen event on the road can end up causing an accident.

A hot woman behind the wheel.
A hot woman behind the wheel.
Getty Images/iStockphoto

According to data collected by Acierto.com, driving in summer when temperatures are too high can increase the risk of an accident by up to 20% . The higher the temperature, the greater the danger on the road.

They also explain that, for example, driving in temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius can cause drivers to fail to notice 20% of traffic signs or increase driving errors by 30%.

To find a solution and avoid these effects, it is always advisable to travel during the cooler hours (early or late in the day), monitor hydration levels, and stop regularly.

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