Posted by Tim Setterfield (more from Tim Setterfield) on Fri, 13 May 2022 23:06:18
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By Tim Setterfield
How To Prevent Unforeseen Circumstances When Hitting The Road
When you set out on a trip, how do you know if you have a lower chance of an accident or breakdown situation? To be safer each day in your car, truck or SUV, keep these handy tips in mind.
Check Your Tires
In advertising, tire makers like to tell you that 'you have a lot riding on your tires,' and indeed, you do. The whole vehicle and all the passengers (and the driver) depend on those tires. To protect you from some unanticipated problems on the road, make sure that your tires are correctly inflated and have a good amount of tread left. Also, look for unusual wear on the corners or other parts of the tire that can indicate specific problems like poor alignment.
By ensuring that your tires are inflated, you're optimizing fuel efficiency and promoting better safety.
Know Your OBD Scan Codes
When you invest in the best OBD scanner for your car's engine, it helps you to do the research and understand how that engine and exhaust system works.
That way, you're less likely to be surprised or startled by various engine and exhaust system problems when you're driving somewhere.
Find the best OBD scanner and hook it up to your engine computer to see if your car is currently throwing any codes, and if it is, start to research how to fix them. You'll need the car to be in serviceable condition for your inspection sticker, depending on what state you live in, and you'll also be safer on the road.
Listen to the Vehicle (And Use the Best OBD Scanner to Diagnose)
Then there's also a more old-school way to make sure your vehicle is operating safely.
That means listening for strange knocking noises that can indicate damage to the pistons, cylinders, or various parts of the engine. It means listening for suspicious sounds that can tell there is a strain on the transmission or that you will have problems shifting.
The engine and transmission are the biggest systems in the car, as far as mechanical drivability, so you're best off paying attention to them. You'll also want to pay attention to your vehicle's heating and cooling system and other auxiliary parts.
Check Fluids
This one is a big one, and some beginning drivers or others who don't know as much about their cars are taken aback when they encounter a problem with dangerously low fluid levels. If you have low brake fluid, you might have a leak in your brake line. The same goes for power steering fluid.
But one fluid that gets mentioned more than most is engine motor oil. When you run out of engine oil, your engine can seize up due to lack of lubrication and grind to a halt. You can actually destroy the entire engine, and you will have to have the car rebuilt with a brand-new engine, which can be extremely expensive. The results can also present a danger while you're driving.
Maintain Visibility
As an aside, make sure you look out for inclement weather and lower visibility situations. You're less likely to get caught unawares when storms suddenly impair your vision and your ability to drive safely.
There's another tip here that is vitally important to help with visibility.
Ensure that your windshield wipers and other relevant gear are in good condition. Make sure that snow and ice are not intruding on your peripheral vision by blocking the windshield or driver's windows.
You'll also want to make sure that your hood is latched correctly to prevent it from springing up into the windshield and obstructing your view of the road.
With this set of safeguards in place, including good tire condition, you'll be ready for some of the road obstacles that can cause accidents. Make sure your headlights are in good working condition and that your headlights aren't too tarnished, which diminishes the light that comes out of the lamp structure.
Have an Emergency Kit
Having items like blankets and flashlights and water and snacks helps you deal with any unforeseen problems that occur while you're on the road. Sometimes traffic jams or snowstorms can lead to a stall-out condition where you have to be in your vehicle for a considerable time.
Anticipate Road Glare
Sometimes problems with road glare prevent you from seeing well as you drive.
Having a set of sunglasses handy is sometimes important. You'll also want to understand the impact of using your high beams on your headlight settings or regular beams and how that changes your vision in fog or nighttime.
Read the Owner's Manual
Understanding your dashboard is the key to safe and happy driving. Too often, a light comes on, and you're scratching your head, asking yourself, 'what does that mean?'
It's not just the check engine light. Modern vehicles have specific problem lights for overheating, low oil, airbag problems, and more. Many new cars also have a tire pressure monitor that flags a light on the dashboard. The key is knowing what all of these characters and icons mean so that you can anticipate what's happening and do any necessary repairs or fixes.
Drive Defensively
It's important to know how to drive safely in erratic traffic. Driving defensively keeps you and your passengers safe.
Always leave appropriate car lengths between you and other vehicles. Watch for drivers doing things they shouldn't, like passing on the right. Use cruise control responsibly.
Know Where the E-Brake Is
In some cases, the backup braking system for your vehicle can be a lifesaver.
One of these situations is where you're putting undue pressure on your brakes by driving down a steep grade. If your brakes give out for any reason, you can grab the e-brake and get the vehicle to stop that way. But the key is to know where it is in that split-second moment so that you can utilize it properly.
All of these tips will help to keep you safe on the road.">best OBD scanner and hook it up to your engine computer to see if your car is currently throwing any codes, and if it is, start to research how to fix them. You'll need the car to be in serviceable condition for your inspection sticker, depending on what state you live in, and you'll also be safer on the road.
Listen to the Vehicle (And Use the Best OBD Scanner to Diagnose)
Then there's also a more old-school way to make sure your vehicle is operating safely.
That means listening for strange knocking noises that can indicate damage to the pistons, cylinders, or various parts of the engine. It means listening for suspicious sounds that can tell there is a strain on the transmission or that you will have problems shifting.
The engine and transmission are the biggest systems in the car, as far as mechanical drivability, so you're best off paying attention to them. You'll also want to pay attention to your vehicle's heating and cooling system and other auxiliary parts.
Check Fluids
This one is a big one, and some beginning drivers or others who don't know as much about their cars are taken aback when they encounter a problem with dangerously low fluid levels. If you have low brake fluid, you might have a leak in your brake line. The same goes for power steering fluid.
But one fluid that gets mentioned more than most is engine motor oil. When you run out of engine oil, your engine can seize up due to lack of lubrication and grind to a halt. You can actually destroy the entire engine, and you will have to have the car rebuilt with a brand-new engine, which can be extremely expensive. The results can also present a danger while you're driving.
Maintain Visibility
As an aside, make sure you look out for inclement weather and lower visibility situations. You're less likely to get caught unawares when storms suddenly impair your vision and your ability to drive safely.
There's another tip here that is vitally important to help with visibility.
Ensure that your windshield wipers and other relevant gear are in good condition. Make sure that snow and ice are not intruding on your peripheral vision by blocking the windshield or driver's windows.
You'll also want to make sure that your hood is latched correctly to prevent it from springing up into the windshield and obstructing your view of the road.
With this set of safeguards in place, including good tire condition, you'll be ready for some of the road obstacles that can cause accidents. Make sure your headlights are in good working condition and that your headlights aren't too tarnished, which diminishes the light that comes out of the lamp structure.
Have an Emergency Kit
Having items like blankets and flashlights and water and snacks helps you deal with any unforeseen problems that occur while you're on the road. Sometimes traffic jams or snowstorms can lead to a stall-out condition where you have to be in your vehicle for a considerable time.
Anticipate Road Glare
Sometimes problems with road glare prevent you from seeing well as you drive.
Having a set of sunglasses handy is sometimes important. You'll also want to understand the impact of using your high beams on your headlight settings or regular beams and how that changes your vision in fog or nighttime.
Read the Owner's Manual
Understanding your dashboard is the key to safe and happy driving. Too often, a light comes on, and you're scratching your head, asking yourself, 'what does that mean?'
It's not just the check engine light. Modern vehicles have specific problem lights for overheating, low oil, airbag problems, and more. Many new cars also have a tire pressure monitor that flags a light on the dashboard. The key is knowing what all of these characters and icons mean so that you can anticipate what's happening and do any necessary repairs or fixes.
Drive Defensively
It's important to know how to drive safely in erratic traffic. Driving defensively keeps you and your passengers safe.
Always leave appropriate car lengths between you and other vehicles. Watch for drivers doing things they shouldn't, like passing on the right. Use cruise control responsibly.
Know Where the E-Brake Is
In some cases, the backup braking system for your vehicle can be a lifesaver.
One of these situations is where you're putting undue pressure on your brakes by driving down a steep grade. If your brakes give out for any reason, you can grab the e-brake and get the vehicle to stop that way. But the key is to know where it is in that split-second moment so that you can utilize it properly.
All of these tips will help to keep you safe on the road.Posts in this Thread:
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