Want to make sure your car is ready for its next road trip? If so, follow the five tips below to ensure everyone you take with you remains safe.
1. Lights
Check your car’s lights. This doesn’t just mean the headlamps and brake lights but the reversing light, the fog lamp and the hazard warning lights, too. You never know when you will need them.
2. Tyre Pressure
Always pump your tyres up before a long trip. You should do this every few times you refuel anyway to help make your car run more efficiently. Under-inflated tyres are bad for road handling. You will not be able to swerve properly if even one of your tyres is partially flat. Furthermore, flat tyres lose traction, especially in wet road conditions, so keep them inflated to the recommended level.
3. Wheel Alignment
Incorrectly aligned wheels cause all sorts of problems. You can drift in your lane or even lose control when you have to brake hard to avoid an object on the road. Lining them up takes a specialist, however, as it’s not something most motorists can do for themselves. If you are not sure where to go for a wheel alignment service, then you can visit Jet Wheel Tyre’s website for more advice.
4. Inspect Your Seatbelts
If there is something that prevents a seat belt from locking properly, then it is of no use and could even cause an injury to a passenger. There again, seatbelts should not be twisted or they can lock in place preventing you from getting out in an emergency. Replace any that are like this or that have frayed sections of webbing.
5. Check Your Oil
Some people never check how much oil they have in their car but it is simply not good to wait for the dashboard indicator to come on to tell you that the car needs more. Oil keeps moving components cool. In hot weather, even modern cars can overheat on longer journeys. Pull out your dipstick when the engine is cool to check the level before heading off on our road trip.
