In a recent article from The National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), they have defined what makes safe driving – stopping and steering. As we see more vehicles on our roads than ever before, safe driving has become a major topic for officials and parents alike. There were an estimated 240.5 million cars and light trucks crowding our roads as of 2011 and that number has since risen in the last six years. With so many drivers out there, your safety is at risk.
Safe driving isn’t just about putting your life in others’ hands when you’re all on the same roads. There are a few things that YOU can do to be safer on the roads, too. For example:
- Reduce your vehicle’s stopping distance by even an inch.
- Try to drive on roads which have been updated (bridges too).
- Watch for holes, cracks or bumps in the roads. Major potholes can be the result of freeze/thaw cycles or warm weather hauling and neglect. Bad roads can ruin suspension components, so vital to steering control and handling, to grow old before their time.
- Maintain your vehicle’s stopping and steering systems. This means making sure your brakes and your steering components are always in working order. Find an ASE-certified technician like ours to diagnose problems and identify potential areas of concern, such as checking the thickness of rotors and identifying worn brake lines and hoses.
- Pay for preventative maintenance now or pay a LOT for major auto repairs down the road. Brake pads, rotors, tires, you get the picture….
- Invest in high-quality brake pads.
- Always have an ASE-certified repair technician work on your vehicle.
- Have the brake calipers inspected to ensure that any moving parts, such as slides and bleeder screws, haven’t corroded and frozen up.
- Don’t always jump at the lowest quoted price for your repairs.
- Have your emergency brake assembly tested periodically. Have it repaired or adjusted if necessary.
- Don’t put off these vehicle maintenance services. Unperformed maintenance is a major issue with vehicles these days. According to a 2005 Car Care Council report, poorly maintained vehicles account for 5 percent of all accidents, causing more than $2 billion in property damage, lost wages and medical expenses.
A safe vehicle is a prepared vehicle. Your stopping and steering components should be in top shape and this can help you reduce your risk of accidents or other problems down the road!
