As everyone who drives should already know without needing to pull up the frightening statistics about car crashes and fatalities, there are many dangers that come with operating a car. However, did you know that there are a few easy steps you can take to increase your car’s safety and reliability? We’ve put together a quick list with some simple points that can help you get started:
Light Up Your Life
One of the easiest changes you can make is to increase your visibility, both for yourself as a driver and for others to be able to see you. For SUV and pickup truck owners, some simple LED light bars, can light up your surroundings to full effect and leave nothing to guesswork. These are great for both street use and off-roading, and can make a world of difference when driving in poor weather.
Cut Down On Unnecessary Mods
If you’re a keen driver, chances are you’ve seen many cars equipped with stylish aftermarket steering wheels. These are popular in race and drift communities and are also road-legal in most circumstances (always check your local laws). For this reason, they are increasingly turning up in standard daily driver street cars. The problem? To install one, you’re effectively uninstalling your airbag, and as such greatly reducing the safety of your car. Unless you’re driving a 30+ year-old classic car that never had the airbag to begin with, it’s not worth the risk.
Check Your Tires Regularly
No matter how new your tires are, if the tread is worn they need to be replaced. Conversely, irrespective of how good your tread looks, if the tires are old, it’s also time to change them. This is the truth of tires, as they’re designed to stick to the road due to their rubber chemical compound, and to disperse rainwater through the tread pattern. If your tires are old, they will not stick. Infamously, the Porsche Carrera GT that claimed the life of actor Paul Walker was driving on the same 9-year-old tires it rolled off the showroom floor with. They looked good, and had barely gone over 3,500 miles, but were simply too old to do their job.
Check Your VIN for Recalls
It isn’t out of the ordinary to receive a letter alerting you of a product recall in your car, advising you to bring it in to be repaired. However, could there be letters you’ve missed? Perhaps you bought your car used, and you’re not entirely sure if all past recalls have been taken care of. By searching your VIN on this database of safety issues and recalls, you can quickly check the full history of your car’s make and model and find out if there are any outstanding concerns.
Check the Driver
Lastly, have you had your eyes checked recently? Even if you’re not seeing double or having trouble reading, you would be amazed at how much detail you can lose in your eyesight over long periods of time without notice. Optometrists aren’t hard to find, and even your basic shopping center glasses store will often be able to give your eyes a test. Accidents aren’t only caused by faulty vehicles, but are all too often the result of user error. Better vision makes for faster reaction times, and in a near-death situation, a quick reaction can save your life.
By taking care of your care and taking care of yourself, you’re minimizing the risk of an accident happening on the road. If we all do our part to make sure we’re safe drivers operating safe vehicles, we’re making the roads a safer place for everyone.
