Bank holiday traffic: can queueing make your car overheat?

The bank holiday has a way of reliably putting the whole country in motion. The forecast looks decent enough and the calendar’s clear, but suddenly everyone’s had the same exact idea at the same exact time. People flock to beaches and shopping centres, and the roads grind to a near-standstill.

A bit of queuing is inevitable on a bank holiday, but it does bring up a familiar worry for drivers: is all this starting and stopping bad for my car? Could simply waiting in a queue cause it to overheat?

The short answer is yes – and no. Let’s unpack it, and talk about how to make sure you’re prepared for if the worst was to happen.

Don’t panic – modern vehicles are designed to handle slow-moving traffic, even on hot days or when there seem to be roadworks on every other road. So if you’re idling or creeping along in traffic, it doesn’t automatically mean that your car will overheat.

That said, the kind of traffic you get during a bank holiday can expose problems your vehicle already has. Think of airflow, for instance – when it’s reduced and the engine is working without much movement, you might reveal some problems in the cooling system, like low coolant levels, a faulty radiator fan, a blocked radiator, or perished hoses or small leaks.

Provided that things are as they should be, your car’s temperature gauge should sit where it usually does. If you notice that when you’re in traffic it starts to climb, that

As we’ve already mentioned, modern vehicles are made to put up with the kind of things that bank holidays put them through. That said, if you notice the following signs, we’d recommend taking action sooner rather than later:

• Your temperature warning light comes on

• You see steam or notice a sweet smell under the bonnet

• The engine temperature gauge is creeping higher than normal

If you notice any of these signs, pull over somewhere safe and switch off the car. Driving an overheating car can very quickly turn into a costly issue.

Even if you take very good care of your car, breakdowns can happen to anyone – and you don’t want to find yourself unprepared in the middle of a bank holiday. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, but a simple breakdown or SOS kit can really make a big difference if you find yourself in a position where you have to wait for help.

You’ll want your kit to include:

• A high-vis jacket (if you need to exit your car)

•   A warning triangle

• Water for the engine

• A phone charger or power bank

• A basic first aid kit

• A blanket or warm layer for yourself

You’ll want to adapt your kit if you have children or pets to incorporate a few extra snacks, drinks and comfort items.

If your car does overheat and won’t get going, this is when breakdown cover really becomes a lifesaver.

On-road breakdown cover means that if you break down while you’re away from home – for example, on a motorway or a country lane – you can call for help and an engineer will come and try to fix the problem roadside. If they can’t, they can take your vehicle to a garage for a repair instead.

But not all breakdown cover is the same. Some policies will only cover you if you break down while at home, while on-road cover is typically an add-on to standard car insurance. If you’re about to embark on a trip or a busy travel day, it’s a good idea to check what you’re actually covered for ahead of time.

Traffic happens, and so do breakdowns – but they don’t have to derail your trip. With on-road breakdown cover as an add-on to your car insurance, help’s there if your car lets you down away from home. Call 01792 522 622 to find out more.

Consistent with our policy when giving comment and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement. In the case of specific problems, we recommend that professional advice be sought.