Though complete vehicle maintenance takes time, it can go a long way in preventing accidents.
Many car accidents involve a driver who acts in a negligent way. Another possible cause, though, is the state of a person’s vehicle. One common example is a person’s brakes being too old and them rear-ending another driver as a result. Fortunately, you can avoid many vehicle failures by going through a simple routine every few weeks.
Lights and Turn Signals
First, get a friend or family member to help you out with checking all of your car’s bulbs. That means your regular headlights, high beams, brake lights, and turn signals. If any of them are out, your next move will be heading to an auto supplies store for a new bulb, and possibly an installation. These lights are necessary because they increase your visibility and allow you to communicate with other drivers, both of which are crucial in avoiding accidents.
Oil Level
Another issue that you might run into is not having enough oil in your car. This problem has two possible adverse outcomes. The first is your engine suffering severe damage, which will give you massive repair bills or might require you to purchase a new vehicle. The second is if your engine malfunctions in dangerous circumstances, which may cause a collision. Both results can be avoided by pulling out your car’s dipstick and checking your oil level.
Tire Pressure
Next, move on to your tires. The first matter you should resolve with them is pressure. While you won’t be able to detect slight pressure variations with your eyes, you will if those differences are significant. All you have to look for is one tire being a bit flatter than the others. Additionally, you can purchase a cheap tool that measures the pressure for you, which will give you a more exact idea of the state of your car. You can visit a local tire specialist if anything is out of the ordinary.
Tire Tread
What makes tire tread so important is its role in turning and braking. If it is not sufficient, those two crucial functions will suffer, and you might end up in an accident. One of the simplest ways to judge tread is by conducting the penny test. When you do, put the coin into a groove on your tire. If you can see the top of President Lincoln’s head, it is time for new tires. Of course, you can always see a mechanic if you’re not sure.
Though complete vehicle maintenance takes a significant amount of training to conduct, there are many crucial tasks that you can carry out on your own. Four of them are checking your bulbs, oil level, tire pressure, and tire tread. Keeping track of these issues will go a long way in keeping you out of accidents. It is therefore definitely worth your time to conduct regular checks. If you find yourself involved in a St. Louis car accident, give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE Case Evaluation.