Whether you’re driving on a daily commute or planning an upcoming road trip, your safety and that of your passengers depends on the fact that your car is in good working order. It’s important to check on your car at regular intervals to ensure that everything is up to standard and going to help you keep safe on the road. I personally mentally use the seasons to remember when to check my car, choosing to do so before winter hits as the harsh conditions can be a real challenge for your car. Likewise, I like to check my car in summer to see how it’s handled the more challenging months.
Whenever you choose to check on your car, here are some top car safety checks you need to do!
1. Consider Your Tyres
The tyres tend to wear down faster than the rest of the car and it makes sense considering they’re the part of the car that’s actively contacting the road and dealing with all the hazards that it may be there, such as litter, broken car parts, pot holes and harsh weather conditions. Worn down treads can mean that your car is unable to stop safely, which could have a terrible outcome. If you have a newer car, it will likely warn you when your car’s tyre pressure drops below a certain threshold, but if not you should regularly check your tyre pressure to ensure that they’re at their optimum settings. Check out tyreplus.co.uk for all your tyre needs! Don’t forget to #TestYourTreads!
2. What’s Your Oil Up to?
Your oil levels on your car are extremely important, without them, you can end up running into huge problems with your engine and costly repairs. It’s a good idea to get into a regular routine with your oil changes, I try to take my car in for a service every six months and if I’m planning a large road trip and it’s been a while, I use it as an opportunity to get my car’s oil changed. You can easily check your car’s oil dip stick if you’re worried it could be getting low and a simple top up can tide you over until your next oil change.
3. Take a Look at the Safety Belts
You’ll probably know how your drivers seat belt is working and that of the passenger seat, but if you’re like me and rarely have backseat passengers it’s a good idea to jump in the back of your car and check how your backseat seatbelts are working. If you ever find yourself in an accident and you have passengers in the back, you want to know that they’ll be as safe as possible. This is quick check that could really save lives.
Use these three checks to make sure you’re safe on the roads, especially as the weather changes.
