What to check on my vehicle before hitting the road?
​When you are always on the road, it is important to check over your car frequently to make sure everything is in tip top shape so you don’t break down on a road trip.
Every year, traffic officers deal with more than 85,000 malfunctions on the road. In the last 2 years, 40 percent of these malfunctions were caused by vehicles with no proper maintenance. Here are some easy checks to ensure that your vehicle is safely equipped to drive.
Advice on what to check
You and your journey
First of all, make sure that you get good sleep and enough rest. Don’t drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or when overly tired. Get updated with the traffic conditions and weather reports.
Tire tread
It is illegal to drive without the minimum tread depth of tire which is 1.6mm, as they will affect your grip, steering, and braking distance. If you are caught with dangerously low tire tread, you can be fined.
It is also important to drive with the right amount of air in your tires since underinflated or overinflated tires can affect your braking, steering, fuel efficiency, and longevity of your tires.
In some locations, when you are caught running out of fuel, you may be issued a fine or penalty. So always keep your tank full or at least a quarter full to avoid running out when you’re on the road. If you aren’t familiar with the area and are driving on remote roads, you might want to stay above half a tank.
Oil level
The oil in your vehicle cleans, cools, lubricates, and protects the moving parts of your engine thus keeping your vehicle from breaking down. Therefore, it is important that your car maintains enough oil and has the oil changed on schedule.
It is essential to have a good view of the road, so make sure you always have some fluid to clean off your windshield in case something splatters and disrupts your view.
Having the correct lighting is important especially on the road, so that other drivers will know how you are driving your vehicle and your direction.
What do you do when you breakdown on a highway?
When you are in your vehicle, it is advised to follow these
Always try to exit at the nearest junction when your vehicle is experiencing difficulties.
If it is impossible for you to head to the nearest junction, turn on your hazard warning lights and move to the nearest safety place.
Get as close to the outer lane as much as possible whenever you can’t go to the emergency refuge area.
You should contact highway patrols via the emergency roadside telephones and wait behind the safety barrier.
If you have access to a working mobile phone, call the emergency hotline and stay in your vehicle with your seatbelts on.