A well-maintained car gives you a safety margin when something goes wrong, and it's your duty to make sure the vehicle you drive is safe. A few quick checks—brakes, lights, tires, glass, mirrors—and a secured load prevent many problems.
Have a mechanic check it if:
- Brakes are noisy, smell funny, or the pedal goes to the floor
- Other drivers keep flashing their headlights at you (headlights out of alignment)
- Wiper blades aren't clearing water well
- The vehicle bounces, the wheel shakes, or it pulls to one side
- Steering is hard, or the car doesn't respond when you first turn the wheel
- The vehicle keeps bouncing after a bump or stop, or is hard to control
Know the rule
Check turn signals, brake lights, taillights and headlights from outside the vehicle.
Handbook p. 104 ↗Know the rule
Check tire pressure with a gauge while tires are cold. Worn or bald tires increase stopping distance, make wet turns harder and can cause hydroplaning.
Handbook p. 104 ↗Know the rule
Penny test: stick a penny into the tread head first. If the tread doesn't reach Abe's head, the tire is unsafe—replace it.
Handbook p. 104 ↗Know the rule
Exhaust gases can kill inside a vehicle in a very short time. Never run the motor in a closed garage, and open a window if you sit in a running vehicle for a long time.
Handbook p. 104 ↗Know the rule
Secure loose objects that could hit someone in a sudden stop or roll under the brake pedal. Use your horn only as a warning to others.
Handbook p. 105 ↗Impact force of a 20 lb. object at 55 mph
Handbook p. 105 ↗Secure your load:
- Tie it down with rope, netting or straps
- Tie large objects directly to the vehicle or trailer
- Cover the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting
- Don't overload the vehicle
- Always double-check that the load is secure
Know the rule
A load is secure only when nothing can slide, fall or shift onto the roadway or become airborne.
Handbook p. 105 ↗Keep your view clear:
- Keep the windshield clean inside and out; keep the washer bottle full (antifreeze wash in freezing weather)
- Clear snow, ice or frost from the front, side and back windows before driving
- Don't hang things from the mirror or clutter the windshield with decals
- Keep lights clean—dirt on the lenses can cut light by 50%
Adjust before you drive:
- Seat high enough to see the road clearly, about 12 inches from the steering wheel
- Side mirrors set so you just see the side of your car when you lean slightly forward
- Day/night mirror set for the time of day
- Head restraint touching the back of your head, to prevent whiplash if hit from behind
Know the rule
Trip planning saves money and wear: combine errands, carpool or use public transit, avoid heavy traffic, and call ahead so you don't make wasted trips.
Handbook p. 103 ↗Put it into practice
On a frosty morning you scrape a small hole in the windshield and start to back out. Stop—clear the front, side and back windows (and your lights) completely before you drive.