Are you getting ready to go on a long journey with your car? If yes, then one of the best things you can do is make a car safety checklist. This is something that will ensure that everything will run smoothly and that you and your car will be safe for the entire trip.
Usually, you will do a car safety checklist twice for each journey: one before you leave and another after you end the trip. But do you know where to start? If you are not sure how to answer this question, then this article is for you.
Read on and learn how to have a safe road trip and how to do a proper car safety checklist. Keep in mind that it is always better to be safe than sorry, and if you want to keep your car in good shape for the next few years, a car safety checklist is something you can’t miss.
1. The oil
Let’s start this list with the basics. One of the first things you need to check before going on a long journey with your car is the engine’s oil. We always hear everybody say that you should check your oil regularly, but even more important is to check it before you are ready to hop into your car and leave for an entire road trip.
As you already know, the engine is a vehicle’s heart. Before embarking on a long drive, ensure that it is in great condition. The very last thing you need on the road would be for your engine to break down and leave you stuck in the middle of nowhere.
After you make sure your engine is working properly, it is time to check the oil. This is an essential step in any car safety checklist, so don’t skip it! The oil is the lubricant that helps all of the moving parts of the engine run smoothly. You can imagine that it would be extremely hard for your engine to run in good condition if you hadn’t changed the oil in a while.
When the engine operates, it consumes oil, which drains with time and miles. Driving a car short on oil is dangerous since it might cause the engine to seize up.
Examine the oil level before you get on the road. Remove the hood and inspect the dipstick that connects to the engine. If the stick shows that the oil is low, get it replaced. Perform the same inspection after the trip, particularly if you did not get the oil replaced before leaving.
2. The auto glass
This might sound weird, but believe us when we tell you that you should not skip this step if you want to make a complete car safety checklist. Try to remember when the last time you checked your windows and your windshield was. Probably not so recently.
Auto glass serves many purposes, but unfortunately, it often gets overlooked. You have no idea when a small scratch could turn into a dangerous crack that can block your vision or even worse.
Before you leave, thoroughly check your car’s windshield and windows. If you find plenty of scratches or little cracks, hire an auto glass professional to fix them.
You should be OK if they are little—just one or two. However, double-check after the trip. It is typical for scratches to grow into cracks over time, particularly while driving on rough roads with a lot of dirt and small rocks.
So, before your next road trip, make sure to put this on your car safety checklist. Even if we don’t worry too much about them, your windshield and your windows are extremely important and should be in almost perfect shape before you leave.
3. The signals and lights
If you want to enjoy a safe and uneventful ride, you know that leaving before checking your lights and signs is a huge mistake. Imagine that you are on the road, and as the sun goes down, you want to turn on the headlights. But what a surprise! It seems that they’re not working. You try again, but the result is the same. What are you going to do now? You can’t keep going like this.
This is why the car safety checklist should include checking the lights and signals. If one of them is not working, you can’t drive, and this sounds like a ruined trip. Carlights help you to drive at night, warn other drivers of your presence on the road, and so on. Keep in mind that before leaving, all of the lights should work properly. In this way, you make sure you don’t have any accidents on the road.
Before you go, check all of the lights. As a precaution, turn on the headlights and signals a few minutes before departure. That way, if any problems arise, you will have enough time to fix them. When you return, test them one more time.
4. The essential fluids
When you own a car, you know that the engine is not the only part of it that requires liquids to work in proper conditions. From the engine to the brakes, the car needs liquids, and you should make sure that everything is on point.
You should check the state of every one of them prior to and following your journey. Here is a list of the exact liquids you wish to check.
First and foremost, check the brake fluids to make sure the vehicle’s brakes are working smoothly. Then, inspect that your vehicle has sufficient coolant; you don’t want it overheating during the trip.
You must ensure the amount of windshield wash is enough so that you are able to clean the windshield while you drive if it becomes dirty. The power steering fluid should also be in optimal condition, allowing the steering wheel to turn smoothly.
These are the main fluids you should put on your car safety checklist before you go on a long road trip. Never leave if they are not in check.
5. The tires
If you think about it, the tires are the ones that are in direct contact with the road, and this can cause a lot of tear and wear. Hopefully, most tires are long-lasting and will endure for years if properly cared for.
One approach to caring for the tires is to maintain proper air pressure. Traveling with low air pressure usually leads to punctures, while driving with high pressure ends in a tire blowout.
Before and after a lengthy journey, check the tire air pressure. At gas stations, you may check the pressure with a pressure gauge or an air hose. This is, for sure, one of the things you should put on your car safety checklist.
The pressure should fall in the 30 to 35 PSI range. If the air in the tire is low, you may fill it up. In case there is too much air, you can let it out. If the measurement is 20 PSI or less, the tire is most likely punctured. Repair it right now, or you risk the tire blowing out on the road.
If you need a new windshield wash liquid, you can try this one: Qwix Mix Windshield Washer Fluid Concentrate
You should also read: Costco Car Buying Program: 4 Important Things You MUST Know Before Signing Up
