Friendly Safe Driving Tips

There is a reason why there are four seasons in a year. Utah’s weather is very bipolar, and you could experience all four seasons in a single day. Winter, spring, summer, and fall within a few hours of a day. Once each season or before your take a major road trip, it’s highly recommended that you perform your pre-season or pre-trip checkups which include the following minimums.

Battery-

• Recharge or replace weak batteries. Dead batteries are no fun on road trips.
• Pay attention to the warning lights on your dashboard to avoid getting stranded on the
roadway.

Fluid:

• Check fluid levels under the hood, battery posts for corrosion, and charging system for proper function.
• Be aware of your under-hood fluid. Just like your body joints the automobile joints require lubrication and conditioned with proper liquid.
• Check your antifreeze which helps cool your powerful engine. Check your power steering and brake fluid to make sure you can remain in full control of your car in the event the
unexpected happens. Check your windshield wiper fluids for proper fill.
• Most importantly keep an eye on your engine oil. Running out of engine oil on a road trip is a disastrous and expensive trip for the mechanic.

Lights

• Check the headlights, side-markers, emergency flashers, parking lights, front and rear directional signal lights, taillights, and brake lights. Your automobile lighting is the safest way to communicate your movement intentions with other motorists on the roadway. From your rear-white reverse lights that alert when you are backing up to your amber turn signal lamps, make sure they are all in working order.
• If one goes out, be quick to replace it so that you do not burn the other one faster. There is nothing worse than going on a road trip with only one operational headlight to just burn out the other and then you are left with no headlights on a road trip distance away from your nearest city.

Brake & Tire System

• Check brakes for proper operation. Pulling to one side, a taut pedal or unusual squealing or grinding could indicate the need for brake repair.
• Tires Traction is the key to good movement, turning, and stopping on wet surfaces. Good tire tread allows water to escape from under the tires, preventing loss of traction. During the winter season, consider changing to tires designed for increased traction on wet surfaces.
• Make sure tires are properly inflated to the pressure shown in the owner’s manual or on the door frame.

Emergency Kit

At minimum remember to have an emergency kit in your trunk. In the event of an unexpected delay on your road trip, these items in your emergency kit will come in to save you. Your kit should include at minimum jumper cables, a spare tire with a jack, dry snack food, first aid kit. It is also advisable to have a pair of winter clothing in your kit in the event you experience sudden season changes while on a long-distance road trip.