5 DIY Car Safety Steps You Can Take Today
Be prepared for your summer road trip
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Take driver safety into your own hands
You might pay a mechanic to keep your engine running, but even if you don't have a degree in mechanical engineering, car safety is within your grasp. Take driving safety in your own hands today with these 5 DIY steps before you put it in gear!
Where the rubber meets the road – One of the most important steps you can take to stay safe on the road is to check your tires. Look for obvious wear, use a gauge weekly to make sure tires are properly inflated, and always confirm that you have a spare in good shape and a jack to change a flat. Make sure your emergency kit contains a can of Fix-a-Flat and snow chains just in case.
Sneak a peek – A quick look underneath your car's front end can tell you with a glance if you have any problematic leaking fluids. Color and consistency is what you're looking for here. Engine oil is light brown to black; coolant is yellow, green, or pink, and slimy; transmission fluid is reddish and thin or brown and thick; and brake fluid, one of the most dangerous leaks to worry about, is clear-to-brown and slick.
Wiped out – On a sunny day, windshield wipers might be the farthest thing from your mind, but get caught in a sudden storm, and you'll be glad you checked to make sure your blades are in good shape and your windshield wiper fluid is full. Full visibility is critical to road safety, so functioning windshield wipers are your first line of defense when conditions turn rough.
Be prepared – Put together your own kit for roadside safety. At a minimum, you want to make sure it includes jumper cables, extra windshield wiper blades, a flashlight, a first aid kit, a quart of oil, a jug of water, and a few warm blankets.
Total recall – Find your vehicle's VIN (vehicle identification number), the seventeen-digit number on the lower left of your car's windshield, and enter it on the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) website to discover any recalls from the past 15 years that might affect the safety of your car. Sign up for updates to be informed if any recalls associated with problems with your vehicles, tires, or car seat, and learn how to get them fixed.
