Tropical temperatures: 5 tips to prepare for the trip

It is tropically warm in the Netherlands. Inland and south it can reach up to 31 degrees Celsius. Are you going out today or in the next few days? Then don’t forget to hit the road prepared with these five tips.

Rijkswaterstaat also has a special heat protocol for today. This means that people between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. are taken to a gas station or parking lot by a salvage company as quickly as possible. After all, you don’t want to wait long in the blazing sun for a renovation company.

Five tips to prepare for traveling in tropical temperatures

Although a car can always have a technical defect, it is important to know if all the fluids in your car are at the correct level. In addition, you should regularly check simple things like tire pressure and profile. For this warm weather, we have five tips to prepare for the road.

1. Bring an umbrella

No, you don’t need to bring an umbrella as it might rain. It’s like protection from the sun. Assuming you’re out in your car and the air conditioning isn’t working, it’s so nice that the sun doesn’t burn your head.

2. Water

Take plenty of water with you when you travel. Place a bottle of water in each door pocket and in the glove box. Preferably make sure they are out of the sun so the water stays cooler.

3. sunglasses

The burning sun on the road or the glare from the sun from other cars is not easy on your eyes. As well as protecting your eyes with sunglasses, being able to keep a good eye on the road is also safe.

4. Don’t set the air conditioner too cold

Most cars on Dutch roads have air conditioning. While it’s tempting to set the temperature as low as possible, getting too cold in the car is not a good idea. As soon as you get out of the car, you get a figurative blow from the heat, which can lead to fainting, for example.

Experts do not recommend lowering the temperature below 21-22 degrees Celsius. And then the difference to the outside temperature is still about 10 degrees!

5. Don’t leave anything in your car (in the sun).

In hot weather you have to be careful not to leave anything in the car. Try to park your car in the shade as much as possible to avoid a boiling hot steering wheel when you get in. Also, placing the sunglasses on the dashboard is not a good idea if you intend to put them on your head when you return.

Be sure to remove anything from your car that doesn’t take heat well. Not just your groceries, but also pets and people you need to get out of the car. A double check never hurts!

Teslas are an exception. In these cars there is a special dog mode. This keeps the interior of the car at the right temperature. However, it is still best to park the car in the shade. In addition, no dog likes to sit in a stationary car in this warm weather.