Get Your Car Road-Trip Ready

If you're planning a road trip, driving your own car is a great way to save time and money. However, you want to make sure your vehicle is safe and ready for the road. If you fail to consider these factors, you might find yourself stranded on the side of the highway. Before you head out on your journey, here are some of the safety measures you should take.

Tire

The tires are one of the most critical safety elements on a vehicle. When the tires are in poor condition, the overall safety of the car is at a dangerously low level. To check your tires, start by looking at the tread. If the tread is significantly worn, you need to have the tires replaced before you leave. Tires with too little tread have a hard time stopping and don't grip the road as well. 

Oil and Fluid Check

Oil, transmission, and other fluids keep your engine, transmission, and other major systems functioning. If you don't have enough fluid, you could cause significant damage to your car. So, it's best to look at the fluid levels beforehand to make sure they are okay. If the fluid is low, there may be a leak, so you want to take your car in for repairs as soon as possible. 

Brakes

If you're heading a good distance away from your home, it's likely that you will spend much of your time on the highway, moving at a fast speed. The faster you drive, the greater the effort to slow your vehicle. If your brakes are in poor condition, operating at a high speed can be especially dangerous. Make certain your brakes are in excellent condition before you leave. 

Glass

Similar to brakes, if your auto glass is not in good condition, highway driving adds another element of danger. When your windshield has even a tiny crack, driving at high speeds increases the risk of the crack spreading. However, even a small crack puts the integrity of the glass into question. In the event of an accident, the cracked windshield would be more likely to shatter. While you're not planning for a crash, you should always be safe, rather than sorry. 

Don't take your car out onto the road until you know that it's road ready. If you're planning to take a vehicle that you don't drive often, it might even be helpful to have a vehicle safety check run on the car to ensure there aren't any underlying problems that you aren't aware of. 


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