By AlexSosnowskiAccuWeather.com
While the summer heat can take its toll on your body it can also posedangers for motorists and may cause issues for railroads.Seasonable summer temperatures are not big problem for much of the nation.
However, when the temperature climbs to well above average levels during thesummer time for an extended period, roads and rails can buckle and tires canblow out. The surface temperature of the road and rails can be much higher thanthat of the air temperature, which is officially measured and forecast forlocations at approximately six feet off of the ground.
Tires can fail during periods of excessive heat. High speed driving,excessive cornering and frequent braking during periods of very hightemperatures can cause the tire to heat up beyond their design ratings. Oncethis happens a blowout can occur.
Not all tires are created equal. Tires have separate ratings for speed andheat. You may avoid this problem by making sure your tires are properlyinflated. Under-inflated tires will run hotter than tires inflated to themanufacturer's recommendation. You can reduce the risk of blowout by slowingdown on the highway and taking curves or corners more gently. Excessive heatcan cause badly worn or old tires to fail even in careful driving.
If you are unsure of the status of the tires on your vehicle, take it to aprofessional for inspection.
Buckling of highways and bending of rail lines occurs when the small spacingbetween the individual sections is taking up by expansion of the asphalt,concrete or metal. In the case of concrete, there is no where to go but up.
Asphalt surfaces can deform, creating ridges and valleys. Both abnormalitiescan lead to vehicle damage and loss of control. In the case of rail lines, thesteel bends horizontally and can lead to train derailment.
Persistent temperatures of 100 degrees have caused pavement to buckle alongstretches of highway in Louisiana and other southern states this week. The heathas road and rail crews scrambling to check and repair these surfaces in somelocations in the South and the middle of the nation.
