Drivers urged to remove popular item from car on Saturday in UK mini-heatwave
As 23C heat hits the UK, motorists are being urged to ensure they are NOT keeping one popular item in their motor.
Drivers have been urged to remove a common item from cars this weekend. As 23C heat hits the UK, motorists are being urged to ensure they are NOT keeping one popular item in their motor.
Markus Lindblad, director of the tobacco-free nicotine pouch and vape retailer Haypp, warned: "All vapes require a battery to function, and these batteries are very sensitive to any extreme change in temperatures, especially heat.
"If you leave your vape in the car, and it's exposed to the sun for a long period of time, then the vape battery is at risk of swelling, leaking and in some cases, can potentially cause the battery to explode."
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He added: "If a vape causes a car fire, owners may not be able to claim on their insurance. Some policies might have clauses that exclude coverage for fires caused by vaping devices, arguing that you increased the vehicle's fire risk, resulting in the car owner paying £1,000s worth of damage."
Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart, warned drivers of the risks that smoking behind the wheel could lead to.
He said: "It may be tempting for smokers to light up while behind the wheel, and while this may be legal, smokers should be aware that ultimately this could lead to a substantial fine, something nobody needs during the cost-of-living crisis.
"But more importantly, smoking can lead to a range of behaviours and distractions which can put road users' lives at unnecessary and totally avoidable risk. These include driving with only one hand on the wheel, clouds of smoke impairing vision and even the risk of dropping the cigarette. If that's not enough to put the cigarette down, I don't know what is."
Although smoking or vaping while driving itself is not illegal, smoking in a vehicle with a roof with anyone under the age of 18 is prohibited.
The law was introduced in the UK by the Government in 2015.