Checking your car on a daily basis is important for a variety of reasons. The habit of daily checks increases the overall driving safety and reduces the risk of potential accidents. Furthermore, regular checks and maintenance also tends to extend the vehicles’ long-term performance and durability. In addition, daily checks can also reduce the repair costs and you carbon footprint as the car gets older. Welcome onboard as we present the top car checks that you should consider making on your vehicle on a daily basis.
Checking your tires
Inspecting your atlas tires or other types of tires is undoubtedly one of the most important daily car checks. Tires are central to overall driving safety and performance. Due to wear and tear, it is essential to check your car’s tires daily. It is important to make sure that your tires fulfill the legal requirements. For instance, the tires need to have a tread depth of minimum 1.6 mm. In addition, they should have the right air pressure.
Make check regularly that there are no deep cuts in the tires, loose or missing wheel nuts. Failure to properly checking your tires daily can jeopardize the safety of the driver, the passengers as well as other motorists and pedestrians in traffic. Seriously consider contacting a professional car repairperson if your dashboard illuminates any tire-related error that you cannot spot or fix yourself. Last but not least, make sure to check the availability and condition of a spare wheel that might come handy when you least expect it.
Checking the car fluids
Various car fluids reveal a lot about the overall state of your vehicle. It is therefore essential to include car fluids in your daily car check. Important fluids to consider include:
- Brake fluid
- State of battery
- Windscreen wash level
- Engine oil level
- Power steering fluid
It is also crucial to be aware of the coolant level or any potential oil leaks. Failure to check include the fluids in your daily check can seriously undermine driving safety as well as performance.
Inspecting the car’s interior and equipment
Inspecting your vehicle’s interior and equipment is a central component in a daily car check. For safety and legal reasons, it is critical to check the function and condition of the seat belts throughout the car. Seat belts literally save lives. A whopping 50% of individuals killed in traffic accidents in 2021 did not use seat belts according to the United States Department of Transportation.
Furthermore, the inspection of the interior should also include adjusting the mirror and head restraint. In addition, also make sure to check the state of the first aid kit and the fire extinguisher. Other standard vehicle equipment to check include the warning triangle, a vehicle handbook, and a functioning torch.
Always check critical car functions before driving
It is important to include a quick inspection of vehicle functions before driving. This is especially crucial when embarking on a longer journey with many hours of driving. Essential car functions include:
- Lights including warning lights
- Car horn
- Brakes
- Washers & wipers
- Fuel level
Driving with a broken CD player may be annoying but still manageable. However, failure to inspect the warning lights, the brakes or the washers can seriously undermine driving safety for yourself, your passengers and other motorists.
Conclusion
The car has a prominent role in the lives of most Americans. Daily car checks are important for driving safety and minimizing the risks of potential traffic accidents. Driving performance and car durability also tend to benefit from daily checks. Inspecting the condition of tires ranks among the most important regular car checks. Furthermore, it is also essential to inspect central car fluids like engine oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid and windscreen wash level as this effects the car in a major way which most people neglect. The daily checks should also include critical functions like seatbelts, warning lights, brakes, and fuel level.
