Summer Driving Tips – The Heat is On
Before you hit the road this summer for the family vacation you’ve been waiting for, be sure your vehicle is road-ready. In the event of any emergency, we can be there 24 hours, 7 days a week.
What do you need to do first?
Schedule your vehicle with a mechanic to give it a good tune-up. A good mechanic will always alert you of any issues that they may find. One thing they should do is check all the fluids in your vehicle, having a skilled mechanic is worth his (or her) weight in gold. No, blinker fluid is not something they check for. Make sure they don’t charge you for that one.
- Coolant (Antifreeze)
- Transmission Fluid
- Oil
- Windshield Washer Fluid
- Brake fluid
Other things to check on:
Check your brakes
Are they worn out, or in needing of replacement? How is the brake fluid? Having a brake fluid leak or lack of brake fluid on a trip isn’t going to make for a memorable vacation. This could cause an accident if you are unable to stop.
Check your tires
Wear and tear on your tires is something we don’t always pay attention to, but you probably should. Usually, we are more worried about if there’s enough air in them, especially with the Midwest’s fluctuating temperatures. A simple test you can do is to take a penny, stick it between some of your tire treads, and see if you can see Abraham Lincoln’s head. If you can, then it’s time to shop for tires. If you can’t, then you should be good to roll. We should also note here that your tires may not always wear evenly on your vehicle, so check all of them, inside of the tire and the outside tread. It’s also usually a good idea to rotate your tires on your vehicle when you take them to your tire shop.
Lights!
Most people have daytime running lights on their vehicles now, this makes it easy for other drivers to see them. But having them on more frequently may mean that you need to check your lights. You can do a simple walk around with everything on or have your travel buddy run the blinkers for you, while you walk around to see if all the lights are in working order. Remember to check your brake lights as well! Not having lights at night could be a hazard for you or others around you. It also could cost you a ticket from your friendly law enforcement officer, and that could impact your vacation spending.
Wiper Blades
It’s not something you think about until your wiper blades stop working, but replacing them
before a long drive will save you headaches during a downpour. Worse yet – detouring to a local
store to get the right wiper blades, throwing you off course. Nobody wants that.
Assemble an Emergency Kit
Before you leave, you may want to make sure you have an emergency kit in your car. Here are some things that may come in handy:
- Band-aids
- Anti-septic wipes
- Rubber Gloves
- Elastic Wrap Bandage
- Instant Ice Cold Pack
- Scissors
- Sterile Gauze and Medical Tape
- Sting or Bite Treatment
- Thermometer
- Tweezers
Other Season Items:
- Extra Water (for Summer)
- Sunscreen
- Blankets (for Winter)
There are plenty of things you can do, before you hit the road this summer, to keep you safe on the
road. If you find yourself in an unfortunate situation, call us – we’ll come help.