MOTORING experts have shared four tips for drivers to stay safe when they flock to Glastonbury this weekend as temperatures soar.
The Met Office is predicting highs of 27C on the event’s opening day, which sees around 200,000 flock to a vast Somerset farm every year.
The UK Health Security Agency has also issued a yellow health warning for this week covering most of England, with the mercury set to peak at 30C today.
Plenty of music lovers will be planning a road trip through the rural South West to reach the iconic Pyramid stage, which will be headlined by megastars like Dua Lipa, Coldplay and Shania Twain this year.
However, experts at Carwow have urged motorists to be cautious when enjoying the sunshine at the festival and revealed four ways to stay safe while enjoying the fantastic lineup.
Anyone looking to park up at the festival should make sure to reserve a designated bay and avoid any spots around long grass where possible, Carwow’s team warned.
Car exhaust can reach up to 200C when running, which is easily hot enough to ignite any foliage that reaches the pipe.
With a few days of high heat running up to the opening of the festival, the grass is likely to be very dry so there’s an increased risk of fire if visitors aren’t careful.
Wardens will be able to direct you to an official parking space and permits can be bought in advance or on the gates.
Having arrived at the festival and safely parked up, drivers should definitely make a last-minute check around the cabin before heading off to enjoy the music.
Any reflective or shiny items in your car, particularly on the dashboard, could be a risk the sun beats down through the windscreen and the internal temperature rises.
Wing mirrors and the like are usually convex, so won’t concentrate the sun’s rays, but other items like sunglasses, shiny bottles or child monitoring mirrors can cause fires if they catch them.
Just last year we reported how one car was left burnt out with a gaping hole in its windscreen after a pair of sunnies sparked a blaze.
Finally, keep an eye on your electronic devices and avoid leaving them in the car when possible.
Gadgets usually come with warning labels displaying the safe operating temperatures but these are usually about 32C, while it can reach nearly double that inside a car on a hot day.
This could cause batteries to overheat and ruin your devices, or even result in a fire if left unattended.
Always make sure to take your electronics with you when you leave the vehicle for an extended period – that includes any portable sat navs.
Ian Reid, Carwow’s head of editorial, said: “Many drivers going to Glastonbury will be understandably excited for the festival and rush to leave their cars to set up their tents.
“But it’s easy enough to leave a pair of sunglasses on a dashboard top, or forget just how hot internal combustion engines get.
“Of course, when there is a ‘Sky Full of Stars’ there are no issues, but the intense heat of the day, with the sun blazing down, can cause some serious damage to parked cars and their contents.
“So, to stay ‘Cool’ this year, it’s worth deploying just a little extra conscientiousness, having a quick look around and underneath your car before heading off on your festival adventures.”
