Latest news with #TonyRich
The Independent
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Travel warning issued for France as roads ‘could melt'
Drivers in France are being advised to stay off the road between noon and 4pm local time and cover their rear windows because of soaring temperatures. The guidance comes as thousands of UK motorists are in the country for summer holidays. France is experiencing a harsher heatwave than the UK, with temperatures exceeding 40C in some areas. Road information service Bison Fute stated that the "extreme heat" means people should avoid driving during "the hottest hours of the day (between 12pm and 4pm)". It also urged motorists to deploy sun visors across their rear window and rear side windows to reduce the interior temperature of the vehicle. Tony Rich, head of media for AA roadside operations, said the French authorities are concerned about road surfaces deteriorating in the heat, and people becoming stranded if they break down. He said: 'Extreme heat can lead to roads melting – they begin to soften at around 50C. 'However, even a sunny day with 20C can be enough to generate enough heat that the asphalt absorbs it and then builds up during the day, with the hottest period between noon and 5pm. 'Officials in France will also be worried about car occupants being stranded on the road. 'A short trip that might not be considered dangerous could become brutal if a vehicle ends up at the roadside and the driver and occupants have not taken adequate precautions against the heat, such as extra water, headgear, sunscreen and other protection.' France issued red weather warnings for the south west of the country, with citizens told to remain 'absolutely vigilant' as 'everyone is at risk, even healthy people' during a heatwave, according to Meteo France, the country's meteorological service. 'Rising temperatures can endanger people at risk, such as the elderly, the disabled, those with chronic illnesses or mental disorders, those who regularly take medication, and those who live in isolation', the service warned in a statement. 'For athletes and people who work outdoors, beware of heatstroke. Also watch over the children.'
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Climate
- Telegraph
British holidaymakers warned not to drive in France as roads ‘could melt'
British holidaymakers in France have been warned not to drive at the hottest times of the day as temperatures soar. Bison Fute, the French government's road information service, stated that ' extreme heat ' meant people should avoid driving during 'the hottest hours of the day between 12pm and 4pm'. France is experiencing a harsher summer than the UK, with temperatures in some areas exceeding 40C on Wednesday. Bison Fute also urged motorists to deploy sun visors across their rear window and rear side windows to reduce the interior temperature of vehicles. It warned: 'Do not leave anyone in the vehicle when it is stopped to avoid sunstroke and dehydration.' Tony Rich, the head of media for AA roadside operations, said the French authorities were concerned about road surfaces deteriorating in the heat, and people becoming stranded if they break down. 'Brutal' dangers of car breaking down He said: 'Extreme heat can lead to roads melting – they begin to soften at around 50C. However, even a sunny day with 20C can be enough to generate enough heat that the asphalt absorbs it and then builds up during the day, with the hottest period between noon and 5pm. 'Officials in France will also be worried about car occupants being stranded on the road. A short trip that might not be considered dangerous could become brutal if a vehicle ends up at the roadside and the driver and occupants have not taken adequate precautions against the heat, such as extra water, headgear, sunscreen and other protection.' Melting roads is a phenomenon that is unusual in the UK but relatively common on the continent. During the July Tour de France road cycle race three years ago, organisers poured 10,000 litres (2,600 gallons) of water on the race course to keep the surface cool. Pierre-Yves Thouault, the race's deputy director told Le Parisien magazine that organisers had 'identified areas which, end to end, would be between 150 and 200 meters of what we call sweating zones where, because of the heat, the tar melts and creates slippery streaks on the road'. Most roads will not begin to soften until they hit a temperature of around 50C, the Road Surface Treatment Association confirmed. 'With temperatures regularly reaching the high 20Cs, the bitumen in some road surfaces may soften and rise to the top,' the organisation explained. 'This makes the road surface sticky and more susceptible to pressure loads from heavy vehicles, resulting in surface ridging and rutting.' British Tarmac rules were changed in 1995 after a heatwave to ensure that our roads are less susceptible to melting in the sun. Under that rule change, the recipe for the Tarmac mix was changed to include polymer binding agents that raise the melting point to around 80C. In July residents of Cannock, Staffordshire, complained that bits of a melting road were sticking to their cars' tyres and causing damage. 'You're ripping up great big chunks out of the road and when you put the car onto the drive, it's literally bringing all the tar onto the drives and it's just spreading all over them,' Marc Edwards, a local resident, told ITV News.
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- Climate
- North Wales Chronicle
France urges drivers to stay off the road during ‘hottest hours of the day'
The guidance comes as thousands of UK motorists are in the country for summer holidays. France is experiencing a harsher heatwave than the UK, with temperatures exceeding 40C in some areas. Road information service Bison Fute stated that the 'extreme heat' means people should avoid driving during 'the hottest hours of the day (between 12pm and 4pm)'. It also urged motorists to deploy sun visors across their rear window and rear side windows to reduce the interior temperature of the vehicle. Tony Rich, head of media for AA roadside operations, said the French authorities are concerned about road surfaces deteriorating in the heat, and people becoming stranded if they break down. He said: 'Extreme heat can lead to roads melting – they begin to soften at around 50C. 'However, even a sunny day with 20C can be enough to generate enough heat that the asphalt absorbs it and then builds up during the day, with the hottest period between noon and 5pm. 'Officials in France will also be worried about car occupants being stranded on the road. 'A short trip that might not be considered dangerous could become brutal if a vehicle ends up at the roadside and the driver and occupants have not taken adequate precautions against the heat, such as extra water, headgear, sunscreen and other protection.'
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Climate
- Rhyl Journal
France urges drivers to stay off the road during ‘hottest hours of the day'
The guidance comes as thousands of UK motorists are in the country for summer holidays. France is experiencing a harsher heatwave than the UK, with temperatures exceeding 40C in some areas. Road information service Bison Fute stated that the 'extreme heat' means people should avoid driving during 'the hottest hours of the day (between 12pm and 4pm)'. It also urged motorists to deploy sun visors across their rear window and rear side windows to reduce the interior temperature of the vehicle. Tony Rich, head of media for AA roadside operations, said the French authorities are concerned about road surfaces deteriorating in the heat, and people becoming stranded if they break down. He said: 'Extreme heat can lead to roads melting – they begin to soften at around 50C. 'However, even a sunny day with 20C can be enough to generate enough heat that the asphalt absorbs it and then builds up during the day, with the hottest period between noon and 5pm. 'Officials in France will also be worried about car occupants being stranded on the road. 'A short trip that might not be considered dangerous could become brutal if a vehicle ends up at the roadside and the driver and occupants have not taken adequate precautions against the heat, such as extra water, headgear, sunscreen and other protection.'
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Glasgow Times
France urges drivers to stay off the road during ‘hottest hours of the day'
The guidance comes as thousands of UK motorists are in the country for summer holidays. France is experiencing a harsher heatwave than the UK, with temperatures exceeding 40C in some areas. Road information service Bison Fute stated that the 'extreme heat' means people should avoid driving during 'the hottest hours of the day (between 12pm and 4pm)'. It also urged motorists to deploy sun visors across their rear window and rear side windows to reduce the interior temperature of the vehicle. Tony Rich, head of media for AA roadside operations, said the French authorities are concerned about road surfaces deteriorating in the heat, and people becoming stranded if they break down. He said: 'Extreme heat can lead to roads melting – they begin to soften at around 50C. 'However, even a sunny day with 20C can be enough to generate enough heat that the asphalt absorbs it and then builds up during the day, with the hottest period between noon and 5pm. 'Officials in France will also be worried about car occupants being stranded on the road. 'A short trip that might not be considered dangerous could become brutal if a vehicle ends up at the roadside and the driver and occupants have not taken adequate precautions against the heat, such as extra water, headgear, sunscreen and other protection.'
