9 Everyday Items You Shouldn’t Leave In Your Hot Car This Summer
Summer is here and so is the heat. Hot weather means a hot car and that can lead to big trouble. When the weather warms up, our vehicles become even more dangerous than at other times of the year.
Responsible people tend to be extra cautious about leaving children and pets in hot cars. That’s a no-brainer. But experts say there are some other items you should avoid keeping in your hot car as they can be hazardous for other reasons. Inside Edition and The Sun recently shared some useful information that could help you avoid some major problems.
9 Items You Shouldn’t Leave In A Hot Car
- Mirrors – Inside Edition reports that a mom learned this lesson the hard way after coming out to her car and finding smoke rising from her child’s car seat. She wasn’t sure what caused the seat to catch fire. Her nine-year-old figured out that a mirror used to keep an eye on the baby had sparked the fire.
- Sunglasses – As with mirrors, a pair of sunglasses left on the dashboard on a hot, sunny day can cause a fire. According to The Sun, that’s exactly what happened to a woman in the UK this year. Her dashboard and windshield were destroyed. And even if there is no fire, this isn’t good for your sunglasses because the lenses can become warped and even crack.
- Cigarette lighters – Leaving a lighter on the dashboard can also lead to a fire, car safety expert Lauren Fix told Inside Edition. “When the temperature is over 100-degrees, they can expand and catch fire,” she says.
- Aerosol cans – If left in a hot car, aerosol cans may explode. Fix points out that they are very flammable.
- Alcoholic beverage – Leaving alcohol in the car can also be risky. The heat can change the taste of the drinks and even cause cans to explode.
- Water bottles – Lauren Fix says, “When you leave water bottles in the car, the warm temperatures will transfer some of the chemicals from the plastic into the water.” Do you really want to be drinking that?
- Electronic devices – Phones and tablets tend to get really hot sitting in the car. That can damage batteries and shorten their life. Those gadgets are expensive enough on a good day.
- Sunscreen – Not only will it make the liquid hot when you go to apply it, the heat can actually reduce the sunscreen’s SPF.
- Medication – Experts also caution against leaving medicine in a hot car. The high temperatures can cause it to melt or even weaken its efficacy.
Roadside Frustrations: 8 Most Annoying Habits Of Other Drivers
The Lane Hogger
You know the type. They leisurely cruise along in the left lane, seemingly oblivious to the growing line of cars behind them. They show no intention of moving over, despite signs clearly indicating slower traffic should keep right. It’s as if they believe they own that lane and everyone else is just passing through.
The Indecisive Merge Master
You’re approaching a merging lane, diligently signaling your intention to merge, when suddenly you spot them—the driver who can’t seem to commit to either accelerating to merge or slowing down to let you in. They teeter on the edge of indecision, causing a chaotic dance of hesitant maneuvering that disrupts the flow of traffic.
The Tailgater
We’ve all encountered the driver who seemingly has a vendetta against personal space. They ride your bumper with an intensity that could rival a race car driver. Whether they’re running late or simply have a persistent need to assert dominance, their tailgating antics create an anxiety-inducing experience.
The Incessant Honker
Honking is meant to be a communication tool, a gentle reminder to draw attention to potential dangers or to express gratitude. However, a special breed of drivers wield their horns like a weapon of mass annoyance. They honk at the slightest inconvenience, from a fraction-of-a-second delay at a green light to a cautious pedestrian exercising their right of way.
The Distracted Doodler
We’re all aware of the dangers of distracted driving, yet some individuals choose to engage in activities outside the confines of a moving vehicle. From applying makeup and eating full meals to scrolling through social media or engaging in animated conversations, these drivers treat their cars as mobile living rooms. Their lack of focus puts us all at risk, and we can’t help but wonder if they have forgotten that driving requires undivided attention.
The Fast Lane Snail
The left lane, aka the fast lane, is meant for, well, going fast. But there’s always that one driver who decides to take a leisurely Sunday drive right there, blocking everyone else behind them. This forces other drivers to undertake risky maneuvers to overtake them, leading to frustration and potentially dangerous situations.
The Traffic Rule Ignorer
Traffic rules exist for a reason. To maintain order, safety, and efficiency on the roads. However, some drivers seemingly view these rules as mere suggestions. They run red lights, ignore stop signs, and make illegal U-turns with complete disregard for the potential consequences. Their actions create chaos and put everyone around them at risk.
The Turn Signal Skippers
It’s like these drivers believe that turn signals are optional car accessories. They change lanes or make turns without a single blinker in sight, leaving the rest of us to play mind readers and guess their next move.
