Know Your Car. Know Yourself.
Posted: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
by Octavia Hansen
Octavia Hansen
You can show off in a good way when you know your car. No, you don't have to be a mechanic or a stunt driver, just be a better driver. And here's how:
Keep at least a quarter of a tank of gas at anytime. Life can change, especially during bad weather. Don't let your vehicle get low on gas. When there's an emergency (rising water, freeze, burning heat) you don't need to be standing at a gas station, probably behind many others who didn't plan ahead either. And remember, when the power goes off, it means gas pumps don't work -- can you drive to a place where there is gas?
Use your turn signals. The entire world would be a safer place if everyone used their turn signals. Get in the habit. Make it a habit. Keep the habit. Even if no one is on the street at three A.M., use the signal to reinforce the habit. It can save the life of a bicycle, a motorcycle, a smaller car, a pedestrian. Look, you bought 'em. Your car is already carrying four of them, USE THEM!
When coming to a stop. At any stop sign or signal, stop where you see the back tires on the car in front of you. If anything happens to the car front of you (stall? accident? debris in the road?) there's plenty of room to change lanes.
Also, worst case scenario: if someone bumps you from behind, there's room to NOT hit the car in front of you. Even if it's not your fault, youhitting the next car, insurance will have to pick up the tab, raising rates, marking you as having an accident.
Watch in your rear view mirror. Make sure the other car(s) stop behind you. Again, you are responsible for what you are pushed into and whiplash is still in fashion. Air bags don't work when you are hit from behind. This is where that extra space in front of your car really pays off -- or saves you money -- or your neck.
Clean all your windows. This should be obvious but it's not. Smokers are the worst for having a hazy film on the inside of their windows, but everyone has dirty windows. Fingerprints, bird droppings, sand, grit, sneezing, morning dew all try to obstruct your vision. At night, this can be deadly -- someone could be driving without lights, unmarked bicycle or a pedestrian wearing black becomes invisible. A quick mist and wiper swipe will NOT give you front window maximum viewing. Look, there is at least two tons of steel hurtling at you from all sides -- if you can't see it, it can kill you.
Check those wiper blades. A good time to check your blades is at the change of seasons -- Summer to Fall, Winter to Spring. When weather changes, that's when you need to see the most. Blades are cheap. If you install them yourself, even cheaper. Don't forget your back window, most vehicles have a rear blade. Want an extra edge? Carry a bottle of water and a wide blade squeegee in the car at all times. Bugs, birds, drips, sprinklers, anything can dirty the wind shield and anything that obstructs your view means dangerous driving.
Check those tires. It's only obvious when a tire is flat but you can catch a slow leak in the act with regular tire checks and probably save yourself a long walk or a long wait. Don't know what you're doing? Get a tire gauge, find a professional and have them show you what to do (Don't forget to give them a BIG tip -- they probably have just saved your life, or at least the expense of a tire). It's easier than ever . . . most tires have psi (pounds per square inch) right on the side of the tire, most cars have it printed on a sticker inside the driver's door. And girls, men LOVE to show off by checking your tires. Let them!
Worst case scenario: a flat or a blowout. You can drive on a flat tire -- go VERY slowly. It will probably shred and ruin the tire, and you will probably sacrifice a rim but that's a small price to pay if you are caught in crappy weather, 100+ degree heat or on a dark road.
Basic maintenance. Again, the obvious is not always so. Do you know when you had your last oil change? Have you checked the oil level with the dipstick? How old is your antifreeze? Where's the washer fluid level? Looked at hoses and clamps recently? How old is the battery? You don't have to be a mechanic to spot trouble. These things can leave your car dead on the road side and yourself at the mercy of strangers. Even AAA takes at last a half hour to get to you anywhere. You can drive on a flat tire but if a hose fails, you're stuck.
Be ready to walk. Girls, this means having practical shoes in the car and ready. Anything can leave you immobile. Even if you see a gas station, it rarely means a mechanic is on duty. Your car will let you down at some crappy time you aren't prepared for -- bad weather, night, heat, emergency. Have a plan, have some basics in your car: a flashlight, a blanket, bottles of water, a sun hat, sun screen, trash bags, a charged cel phone, emergency info and numbers written down in the glove box, a handful of change, a coat. There are other things you can do to make your life easier, these things don't weigh a ton and aren't effected by time or weather.
The person you can count on the most is you. As in any situation, if you are prepared you don't have to have an emergency.
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