Extreme heat and driving: how to protect your car, your kids and yourself
How heat endangers kids in cars, strains your vehicle and makes breakdowns risky
Summer heat waves are getting longer and hotter in many parts of the country. For drivers, heat brings three dangers. A child or pet can be left in a hot car. The car can break down. And a person can get sick from heat while stuck on the road.
The National Weather Service calls heat one of the leading weather related killers in the United States [1]. This guide covers how to stay safe behind the wheel when temperatures soar.
Hot cars kill children
A parked car is a greenhouse. Even with the windows cracked, the inside can heat up fast. Researchers who track hot car deaths have found the temperature inside a car can rise about 19 degrees in 10 minutes [2].
Children are at the greatest risk. Federal safety officials say a child’s body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s. About 37 children under 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle [3]. In 2025, 34 children died. By the fall of 2026, 23 more had died [3].
More than half of these deaths happened when a parent or caregiver forgot a child was in the car [3]. It can happen to loving, careful parents, especially when routines change or they are tired.
How to prevent a hot car tragedy
- Look before you lock. Open the back door and check the back seat every time you park.
- Put something you need in the back seat, such as a phone, purse or work badge.
- Use a reminder. Many newer cars have rear seat reminder alerts. Turn them on.
- Ask your child care provider to call you if your child does not arrive as planned.
- Lock your car and keep keys out of reach. Some children climb into unlocked cars to play and cannot get out.
- Never leave a child alone in a car, not even for a minute, and not even with the engine running.
Warning: If you see a child alone in a hot car, call 911 right away. If the child seems hot or sick, follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Many states protect people who act to rescue a child in danger.
Heat is hard on your car
Batteries. Heat speeds up the wear inside a car battery. Many batteries that fail in winter were damaged by summer heat. Have the battery tested before a long trip if it is more than three years old.
Tires. Hot roads and underinflated tires are a bad mix. A tire low on air flexes more, builds heat and can fail. Check pressure monthly, when tires are cold [4].
Cooling system. Check coolant levels and look for leaks or cracked hoses. Watch the temperature gauge. If it climbs toward hot, turn off the air conditioning, turn on the heater to pull heat from the engine and pull over safely.
Electric vehicles. EVs use energy to cool their batteries and cabins. Expect somewhat less range in extreme heat, and avoid letting the battery sit at very low charge in a hot parked car.
Heat and you
Heat affects drivers, too. Dehydration and heat stress can make you tired, slow your thinking and cause headaches.
- Carry plenty of water and drink it
- Run the air conditioning, and park in shade when you can
- Take breaks on long drives
- Watch passengers who are older, very young or have health conditions
If you break down in the heat
A breakdown on a 105 degree day can become a medical emergency.
1. Get the car as far off the road as you can. Turn on hazard lights.
2. Call for roadside help right away. Do not wait to see if the car cools down.
3. Decide where it is safest to wait. A car without air conditioning heats up fast. If there is a safe, shaded spot well away from traffic, it may be cooler outside the car.
4. Drink water. Cover your skin and head from the sun.
5. Watch for signs of heat illness in everyone with you.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Heat illness warning signs
| Condition | Signs | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Heat exhaustion | Heavy sweating, cool clammy skin, weakness, nausea, dizziness, headache | Move to a cooler place, loosen clothes, sip water; get help if symptoms worsen or last more than an hour |
| Heat stroke | Body temperature 103 degrees or higher; hot, red skin; confusion; passing out | Call 911. Cool the person right away with water and shade |
Source: Based on National Weather Service and CDC heat illness guidance [1, 5].
Checklist: summer car prep
Checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Battery tested if older than three years
- Tire pressure checked, including the spare
- Coolant level checked and hoses inspected
- Air conditioning working
- Water, sun shade, hat and phone charger in the car
- Rear seat reminder turned on or a “look before you lock” habit in place
Frequently asked questions
Is it okay to leave a child in the car with the air conditioning running?
No. Engines can stall, air conditioning can fail and children can shift the car into gear. Never leave a child alone in a car.
How hot is too hot to drive?
There is no set limit. But in extreme heat, plan trips for cooler hours, make sure your car is in good shape and carry water.
Can dashboard heat damage things I leave in the car?
Yes. Phones, medicines and aerosol cans can be damaged or burst. Do not leave medicines, lighters or spray cans in a hot car.
Related articles
Sources and further reading
- 1National Weather Service. “Heat Safety.” weather.gov/safety/heat
- 2NoHeatStroke.org, Jan Null, San Jose State University. “Heatstroke Deaths of Children in Vehicles.” noheatstroke.org
- 3National Safety Council, Injury Facts. “Hot Car Deaths.” injuryfacts.nsc.org/…/hotcars
- 4National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Tires.” nhtsa.gov/equipment/tires
- 5Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Heat and Health.” cdc.gov/heat-health
This article reflects the safety priorities of extreme weather safety and child passenger safety. It is general education, not medical advice. Call 911 in a heat emergency. Reviewed November 2026.
Special thanks to our contributors
We appreciate the professionals, experts, and community members who share their knowledge and perspectives to help make this resource better. Your insights are always welcome and appreciated.
Have professional expertise, firsthand experience, or a perspective that could make this resource better?
We welcome your input. Your knowledge and experience can help us make this resource more useful, accurate, and meaningful to the people who rely on it.
Thank you. Your contribution is on its way.
We’re grateful you took the time to share your knowledge with us. Our team reviews every contribution with care. If it helps improve this resource, we’ll update the page and recognize you the way you chose.
Keep learning
Safe Driving Resource Center
Guides, self-checks and articles for drivers, parents of new drivers, and families recovering after a crash.
