With the safety ratings and devices that feature in modern cars, it is easy to become complacent with basic maintenance. People feel secure in the cocoon, but anything that moves at speed is in danger; it is just physics. When you consider the amount of cars on the road at and second of the day, it is miraculous that there are not more collisions. Perhaps that is a testament to the human condition, speed limits, warning alarms, and braking systems.
It is a fact that there are more traffic collisions in the winter than in the summer, so road conditions must have an affect on safety. It makes sense that we prepare our vehicles before the bad weather and cold temperatures arrive so that it is ready to meet the seasonal changes.
Here are some vital safety checks to undertake before next winter. It isn’t difficult; mostly common sense.
Tyres
You must perform a detailed check of the tyres on your vehicle. For that, you will need a pressure gauge, foot pump, depth gauge, and torch. Follow this procedure:
- Park the vehicle on level ground and apply the handbrake.
- Remove the dust cap from the tyre valve and press the pressure gauge onto it. Read the gauge and if the pressure is correct, replace the dust cap.
- If the pressure is low, inflate the tyre with the foot pump and keep checking until it is correct. Then replace the dust cap.
- Check the depth of the tread across the tyre with the depth gauge. In the UK, the legal limit is 1.6mm but it might vary in your country. Remember that is a minimum depth; your car will be safer if it is more than that.
- Lie on the floor and check the inside walls of the tyre with a torch. Roll the car forward, so the wheel makes a half-turn and inspect the rest of the tyre. If you spot any sign of damage, fit a new one.
- Check the outer rim of the tyre for damage.
Tyres stand between you and life-threatening collisions, so give them proper consideration.
Windscreen Wipers
The experts at www.easternwestern.co.uk know that good windscreen wipers can mean the difference between life and death. They are also cheap and easy to replace. If there is any sign of failure, replace them at once. Check the rubbers for cracks or damage and see how well they clean the screen You might have noticed that one of them leaves a streak on the glass. The clues are there!
Top up the washer bottles too and add the correct amount of winter screen wash so that it will not freeze in the cold weather.
Lights
You use the lights more in the winter when the days are shorter, and it only takes a few seconds to check if the bulbs are ok. Ask an assistant to move around the car and check the lights as you operate them. What could be more simple? Replace any faulty bulbs, and keep some spares in the car for future use.
These simple checks can mean the difference between safety and disaster, so there is no reason to put the off any longer. Indeed, you should perform them whatever the season, so try to develop a monthly routine; it only takes twenty minutes or so. That’s all for today guys, be safe!
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