Heatwave can cause combustions

As the heatwave continues to sweep the UK, with temperatures reaching as high as 30°C, Venson Automotive Solutions is warning fleet drivers of the dangers of leaving certain everyday items in their vehicles.

From inflammable goods such as disposable cigarette lighters and aerosol canisters, to canned fizzy drinks, there are numerous things that can potentially cause damage to an interior of a vehicle and which could cost fleet managers hundreds of pounds to repair – or worse still, cause an accident or injury to the driver or passengers.

It may sound like an urban myth, but a cheap disposable cigarette lighter left on a car dashboard was recently implicated in a car fire due to the sun’s rays causing it to catch fire. A car is essentially like a greenhouse when it is parked in direct sunlight, with it taking a mere 10 minutes for the temperature inside to climb to hazardous levels.

Gil Kelly, operations director at Venson said, ‘The cost of any damage to a leased vehicle can add up and will be determined at the end of the contract. Therefore, it is important to ensure that any internal damage is kept to a minimum and fleet managers can play a role in this by helping drivers understand the dangers some items cause when exposed to the sun. Drivers need to be mindful that when they leave their vehicle parked up, especially for long periods of time, they remove any objects which could cause damage through exposure to high temperatures, including items on the dashboard, seats, rear parcel shelf and boot.’

What not to leave in a vehicle when the temperature soars includes: disposable lighters, pens, aerosol cans, disposable batteries, plastics, petrol canasters and canned carbonated beverages.

SHARE