Summer is almost here, and we all know what that means - road trips! Whether you're going on a trip to the beach, to grandma's house, or just taking your kids to soccer camp, there are some steps you should take to make sure you and your family are safe while on your travels.
- Check your tire pressure. You should be able to find recommended inflation levels for your car in the owner's manual. Driving at the proper tire pressure not only keeps you much safer, but can also help you increase your fuel mileage- and who doesn't want better gas mileage?
- Make sure there's enough tread on your tires. For a quick test, you can put a penny Lincoln's-head-side-down into the tread on your tires. The grooves should at least touch the top of Abe's head when you do this. Another quick trick to check the tread is to feel for a little bump on the inside groove of one of your tires. The tire manufacturers put them inside the groves about 8-12 inches apart on each of the grooves. If you can feel the little bump, your tires should still be alright, if you can't feel the bump, or can tell it's pretty worn down, it's time to get those tires checked out.
- Make sure all your car's fluids are topped off: brake fluid, power steering fluid and windshield washer fluid. Also be sure to double-check your engine coolant. If the coolant runs dry, you could end up stuck on the side of the road with an overheated car.
- Summer storms can pop up out of nowhere and sometimes they bring hail. If you're driving when a hailstorm hits, pull over to the side of the road as soon as it's safe. The faster you're moving when the hail hits your car, the more damage it will do. If the hail does crack your windshield, be sure to call and schedule a windshield repair with one of Glass America's technicians as soon as possible, before the crack has a chance to spread. Most cracks smaller than a quarter can be fixed.
Hopefully these tips can help you make sure that you and your family stays safe and sound on your way to your summery destinations.