Staying safe on the roads and protecting the lives of yourself, your passengers and your fellow drivers are important concerns for most car owners. There are many factors that contribute to car accidents, and some of them are simply out of your ability to control. However, there are many factors that you can control, and the way that your car handles on the road is one of them.
Cars vary dramatically in their fundamental road handling abilities depending on the make, model, size and age of your car. Yet all cars will handle better and more safely if you ensure that these two auto service checks are completed regularly.
1. Power steering
Power steering is a feature of almost all modern cars and many older models too. It can help to ease you out of sticky situations on the road and to drive in a smooth and more comfortable manner. However, a neglected power steering system can make your car less safe on the road.
Power steering that is damaged or faulty can particularly impact your ability to navigate curves on the road and sharp corners. It can also cause your steering ability to become stiff and unresponsive, often intermittently. This can be dangerous if you're expecting your car to steer in a certain way and it fails to do so, especially at high speed.
Regular service of your power steering can also help to prevent an expensive replacement of the entire system. Identifying and remedying small problems as they arise will help to prevent the big and more costly problems that can arise.
2. Tyres and wheels
Your tyres are the only thing that connects the great hunk of metal that you're sitting in with the road surface. Making sure that your tyres are in good condition is vital to stay safe on the road. As well as regularly checking the tyres' tread and overall condition yourself, make sure that you have them inspected at least once a year by a mechanic or tyre technician.
It's also important to make sure that your wheels are checked for alignment regularly. Properly aligned wheels allow for better steering and road handling abilities and also ensure that the tread on your tyres doesn't become unevenly or excessively worn.
You can usually have your wheels aligned during your yearly tyre check or when you have your tyres replaced. It's also good to have the alignment checked after a collision or an impact with a curb, even if there hasn't been any significant damage to your vehicle.
Share3 November 2017
I rely a lot of my car as I am a paraplegic. I can only drive a car that has specially modified with wheel controls, so it's very important that I get my car serviced by a company that knows what it is doing. I also need my car to be serviced quickly as I am very limited in how much I can get around without it. This blog has some tips on how to find a car servicing company that will suit you if driving a disability-modified car. I hope it will be useful to other people with disabilities who rely on their cars as much as me.
