Motorists are facing a severe warning as Britain's ongoing heatwave causes roads to melt and increases the risk of dangerous tyre blowouts. The alert comes from AA president Edmund King, following Tuesday's peak temperature of 35.1C recorded in Kew Gardens, west London.
Melting Roads and Heat-Stressed Surfaces
Roads in East Anglia have already begun to soften, notably the A143 in Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds. Mr King explained: "Some roads may begin to soften at temperatures above 50C, which could occur when air temperatures reach 30C. Other impacts that can show on heat-stressed roads include rutting and wheel paths from the weight of vehicles on busy roads where the road surface has softened."
Tyre Safety Concerns
High temperatures "stress the rubber" on older or damaged tyres, potentially causing "punctures, wall failures and, most dangerous, blowouts," Mr King added. He urged drivers to replace damaged tyres to avoid incidents that pose a "threat to you, people in your vehicle and other road users."
Breakdown Statistics Surge
The AA reported that the number of breakdowns it attended over the bank holiday weekend increased by 15% compared to the same period last year, as "heatwave conditions put extra strain on vehicles." The company received 34,124 callouts between Friday and Monday, up from 29,602 a year ago. Sunday and Monday saw the biggest year-on-year increases, with callouts rising by 21% on both days, while Saturday and Friday recorded increases of 17% and 5%, respectively.
Another breakdown rescue company, the RAC, said it was 29% busier than usual on Tuesday compared with a normal Tuesday in late May, handling more than 9,500 requests for assistance.
Record-Breaking Temperatures
Britain is experiencing its fifth consecutive day of soaring temperatures, with 35C recorded at Heathrow Airport on Tuesday, breaking the May temperature record for the second time in two days. Locations from Suffolk to Berkshire and Warwickshire have all broken temperature records, according to the Met Office. The 34.8C recorded in Kew Gardens on Monday smashed the previous May record of 32.8C, set in 1922, by two degrees. That record was then surpassed on Tuesday.
Blistering UK temperatures also meant that London was set to be warmer than Lagos, Cairo, or Ho Chi Minh City, according to early forecasts.
