A poorly maintained car can break down or cause a crash, and it may not respond when you need it most. It's your duty as a driver to make sure the vehicle is safe. Follow your owner's manual — and know these basics.
Check regularly
- Brakes — noisy, smelly or sinking to the floor? See a mechanic
- Lights — turn signals, brake lights, taillights, headlights (check from outside)
- Battery — runs down faster in cold or damp weather
- Windshield — repair damaged glass; replace wipers that don't clear
- Washer fluid — use non-freezing fluid; check at each fill-up
- Heater and defroster — keep windows free of fog and ice
Know the rule
Worn or bald tires increase stopping distance, make turns harder, cause hydroplaning and flats. Unbalanced or underinflated tires wear faster and make the car harder to steer and stop.
Handbook p. 114 ↗Minimum tread — put a penny in head first; if the tread doesn't reach Lincoln's head, the tire is illegal
Handbook p. 114 ↗Know the rule
Use the recommended tire pressure on the driver's door-jamb sticker (or glove box, trunk, visor, owner's manual) — not the maximum pressure printed on the tire. Check the spare, too.
Handbook p. 114 ↗Know the rule
If steering is hard or slow to respond, have it checked. Never turn the ignition to 'lock' while moving — the wheel locks and you lose control.
Handbook p. 114 ↗Know the rule
A car that keeps bouncing after a bump may need new shocks or suspension parts.
Handbook p. 115 ↗Know the rule
Exhaust leaks can kill in a short time. If you or passengers feel sleepy while riding, get it fixed immediately. Crack a window when idling a long time, never run the engine in a closed garage or with the tailpipe blocked, and never sleep in a running car.
Handbook p. 115 ↗More checks
- Check coolant only when the engine is cool
- Secure loose objects — they can fly in a crash or roll under the brake pedal
- Use the horn only as a warning
- Start any long trip with at least a half tank of gas
Traffic conditions change with:
- Volume (rush hour, midday, night)
- Traffic control devices
- Crashes and work zones
- Road type (interstate, rural, city)
- Weather
- Speed limits and traffic flow
Know the rule
Vehicles moving the same direction at the same speed can't hit each other — multi-car crashes often happen when drivers go faster or slower than traffic.
Handbook p. 115 ↗Slow down at trouble spots
- Brake lights several cars ahead
- Shopping centers, parking lots and downtowns
- Rush hour
- Narrow bridges and tunnels
- Schools, playgrounds and residential streets
- Railroad crossings
Know the rule
Good drivers keep studying the rules — re-reading the manual for law changes and studying a new state's manual when they move.
Handbook p. 116 ↗Put it into practice
Your brake pedal sinks lower than usual and squeals. Don't wait for your next oil change — only your brakes can stop the car. Have a mechanic check them now.