Safety Equipment and Vehicle Maintenance

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Safety Equipment and Vehicle Maintenance

 

This covers the importance of maintaining your vehicle and having all the necessary safety equipment.

 

Make sure the safety equipment in your car is in good working order, and that you are prepared for any emergency breakdown. A sudden vehicle breakdown can cause a serious crash. To avoid that, have your vehicle checked and maintained regularly. Preventive maintenance will not only help you avoid crashes caused by mechanical failure, but will also save you money. A simple leak, which costs a few bucks to fix, can result in hundreds of dollars in future repairs if you leave it unattended. If your car’s temperature is rising or the low oil light flashes while you’re driving, pull over and stop when it is safe to do so. Driving with low coolant or oil may stall your vehicle and could cause irreversible damage to your engine.

The following is a list of required safety equipment and some reasons why it is there.

http://aipsawaredriveronline.com/aipsenglish_images/rearview%20Mirror.jpgRear view mirror

You should get in the habit of checking your rear view mirror every 8 to 10 seconds, and I don’t mean to see if your hair is in place.

http://aipsawaredriveronline.com/aipsenglish_images/buckle%20up.JPGSafety belts

These should be available for every passenger, and not stuck under the seat! As a matter of fact, this is such an important component, we have dedicated a whole section to this topic later in this chapter.

http://aipsawaredriveronline.com/aipsenglish_images/Headlights.jpgTwo headlights

Low beams: illuminate the road ahead of you to 150 feet.

High beams: should illuminate road at least 350 feet ahead of you . Keep them clean and check for burned out bulbs and you should always make sure that your high beams aren’t directly in the eyes of oncoming drivers.

Turn signal lights

You should have flashing signal lights on the front and rear of your vehicle, which are visible from 300 feet and clearly indicate an intention to turn. The front turn signals should be white or amber, and the rear turn signals red or amber.

A white light

The light on your license plate should make the numbers on the plate readable from a distance of 50 feet.

http://aipsawaredriveronline.com/aipsenglish_images/Tail%20Lights.gifTwo tail lights

Red in color and visible 1,000 feet behind your vehicle.

Brake Lights

There should be two stop lights, bright enough that you can tell them apart from the tail lights and visible 300 feet behind you during the day and at night.

Back up light

At least one white light in the back of your vehicle that lights up when you put your car in reverse warning other drivers that you are backing up or are about to back up.

 

http://aipsawaredriveronline.com/aipsenglish_images/Brake%20Pad.gifBrake System

Check the pads and parking brake system regularly. Either system alone must be able to stop the car. The parking or emergency system should be strong enough to hold the car on any hill.

http://aipsawaredriveronline.com/aipsenglish_images/Tire.jpgTires

Tires should not have less than a 2/32” tread. You can gauge the depth of your tire treads by inserting a penny into the tread. If you can see Lincoln’s entire head, it’s time for you to get new tires. Your tires should be inflated to produce maximum contact between the tires and the road. Over-inflation will decrease that contact area, reducing traction. Under-inflation will put pressure on the sidewalls of the tires and raise their temperature, which could cause a blowout. You should check tire pressure daily, and you should also check for wear on the treads. You should also equalize the wear on your tires by having them rotated every 12,000 miles.

http://aipsawaredriveronline.com/aipsenglish_images/Horn.jpgHorn

You should only use your horn to warn other drivers or to prevent a crash, not to show how upset you are because you missed your morning coffee.

http://aipsawaredriveronline.com/aipsenglish_images/muffler.jpgMuffler

To reduce noise and pollution it is illegal to remove or disconnect any pollution control device on your vehicle. I’m sure that law makes us all breathe a little easier.

Windshield

The windshield must be made of special safety glass and cannot be tinted with any film that restricts your view or makes the surface reflective. Any crack in the windshield, regardless of size, must be repaired immediately. Even a tiny chip could violate the integrity of the windshield and cause it to shatter. If you have sun visors over your windshield, they must be non-reflective and easily moved out of the way. You cannot have any objects attached to your windshield, side or rear windows that would obstruct your vision. It is against the law to drive with any defective or obstructed windshield or rear window.

http://aipsawaredriveronline.com/aipsenglish_images/windshield.jpgWindshield Wipers

To keep the dirt and rainwater away from your windshield, you will need two windshield wipers. Check the wiper fluid and replace the rubber blades regularly.

 

http://aipsawaredriveronline.com/aipsenglish_images/Check%20Fluids.gifCheck Your Fluids

Check all your fluids oil, water, steering, transmission, brake. Change and check all the light bulbs and listen for unusual noises and sounds. These are probably the easiest and most important maintenance tips. Driving without water or oil can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your engine, when it costs $20 to $35 to change the oil in your vehicle. You can add water for free at most service stations.

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