Being on the road and behind the wheel is something that most of us do on a daily basis. But what we don’t always think about is properly maintaining our vehicles or what we should keep in our vehicles in case of emergency. Today we are going to spend a little time talking about some of the things we need to do to make sure we are safer on the roadways.
Wear a Seatbelt
Wear a seat-belt always, not only is it the law in most places, but it helps keep you and your family safer. Plus if we as parents don’t wear them how will our kids know the importance of safety. If you have kids be sure to buckle your children up in the correct car seat for their age. Teaching them from a baby to be safe in the car is much easier than trying to convince a toddler he needs a seatbelt for the first time.
Don’t Drink and Drive Or Text
Ok, so this is a given, but seriously the legal limit is .08% which is different in every person. You won’t know if you are at .08% or higher unless you have a breathalyzer test. Even if you only had two beers, don’t drive. The higher your alcohol level, the less reaction time you have. And, a level of .08% or higher can earn you a night in the drunk tank.
Reduce driver distractions, put your cell phone down and leave it down. There isn’t a single text or phone call that is worth your life, or worse yet, other people’s lives. Keeping your distractions to a minimum allows you to watch the roadways around you as well as stay in complete control of your vehicle.
Stay Focused: It’s not just electronics that cause accidents. Anything from applying makeup to fiddling with your radio can delay your reaction time by 20%.
Be on Defense and Offense at the Same Time
The truth is, bad drivers are everywhere and you never know when you’re going to encounter one. Be on the offense with your own driving, but, also, be on the defense watching other drivers. Lots of insurance companies have “safe driver” programs that allow you to cash in on the savings. So be sure to drive your best and check with your insurance company to find out what discounts you are eligible for.
Stay Two Car Lengths Behind
I can’t tell you how many times I see people riding someone’s bumper. The rule of thumb is to stay two car lengths behind the person in front of you. This gives enough error room if the car in front of you slams on their breaks and both vehicles have precious cargo in them.
Properly Maintain Your Vehicle
Properly maintain your vehicle. Check the vehicle owner’s manual for service recommendations as well as keeping things checked between services. Some of the things to check include hoses, belts, filters, fluids, and of course spark plugs.
Kunes Country of Barneveld
If you do not have the mechanical ability to do so, dealerships like Kunes Barneveld has great services available to help you keep your vehicle in tip top shape. They even have an Express Lane to provide quick, convenient service for changing your oil, checking your vehicle and getting you back on the road quickly and securely. Just remember to keep a maintenance log of all work you have done on your vehicle.
Remember to keep tires properly inflated and make sure you have enough gasoline especially in the winter months. We try to keep ours at a half of a tank at all times and we have a portable air compressor in our vehicles at all time.
Pack your emergency kit and leave it in the vehicle. Keep a first aid kit, battery jumper cables, and safety lights in your vehicle. I don’t know about you but I would rather be safe than sorry.
Use this Car Maintenance Checklist to keep organized throughout the year and keep your vehicles running in tip top shape. Plus Kunes Barnesveld dealership has a large collection of video resources to help you understand why servicing your vehicle is so important.
Follow these safety tips for safer travels all year long. What other safety tips do you have for other drivers you are sharing the road with?
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