Back in the good ol days of clunkers and muscle cars, safety wasn't as much of an issue as it is today. We didn't have airbags, or antilock brakes, or GPS. While we did have seatbelts, there was a time in America when it wasn't necessarily law to strap them on.
With today's advancements in technology and safety testing techniques, you don't have to be stranded in the middle of the desert with no way to call for help. Nor do you have to worry about hitting your head on the windshield, or skidding out of control on a wet highway. Indeed, cars are getting smarter; and savvy drivers are learning how to keep their cars safe.
Let's take a brief look at the Top 10 Car Safety Tips:
10) Familiarize Yourself With Your Airbags. Today, side curtain airbags complement front driver and passenger airbag systems. Read your instruction manual to learn how these airbags operate and what to do in an emergency.
9) Get Oil Changes at Regular Intervals. In the halcyon days of drive-ins and muscle cars, many people changed the engine oil themselves. But with engines becoming more complex, in addition to our lives being so busy these days, it's far easier taking the car to the dealership or quickie lube joint. Don't neglect this important safety tip. Over time your oil thins, making it hard to lubricate the engine. If friction becomes too intense within the engine, it will suddenly and unexpectedly stop (freeze). At that point, you'll need either a new engine or a new car.
8) Ensure Proper Antifreeze Levels. When you have your oil changed, ask them to make sure your antifreeze is at the proper level. If you suspect a leak, tell them and they will perform a coolant system pressure check in addition to ensuring the hoses are in good working order. If your antifreeze is too low or if you have a leak, your engine will overheat, thus leaving you stranded.
7) Keep Your Tires Inflated and Treads Deep. Tires that are too high or too low in air pressure can be a road hazard in addition to poor fuel economy. A very handy high-tech innovation in vehicle safety in recent years is the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). The car actually monitors tire pressure and alerts the driver to a specific tire that is below the air pressure threshold. If your car doesn't have a TPMS, check tire pressure monthly. Also check your treads to make sure your tires aren't going bald, and look for signs of dry rot (cracking on the sidewalls). All these things can lead to blowouts and potential accidents.
6) Get a Brake Check. We all know to use the hand-pulled emergency brake in case of primary brake failure. The emergency brake is also useful when parking on a steep incline. But if your primary brakes are feeling hard when you apply them, or they are squeaking, take the car in for a brake check.
5) Know How to Use Your Antilock Brakes. Many cars these days come with a handy safety feature called antilock brakes. Essentially, the brakes pump automatically when the brake pedal is engaged at higher speeds, thus preventing skidding. Many drivers are initially startled by the feel of the antilock brakes pumping several times per minute under their foot. If you're in a skid situation, make sure you keep the brake pedal depressed so the antilock brakes can prevent you from skidding out.
4) Eliminate Blind Spots. Some vehicles, most notably SUVs, are known to have blind spots in the rear. Blind spots have been blamed for some horrific accidents that include hitting, even killing, pets and small children. If blind spots are a problem with your car, make sure you have mirrors, a video camera, or otherwise can see behind you and to both sides.
3) Use Mapping and GPS Technology With Emergency Assistance. With the popularity of cell phones these days, one may question the need for in-car mapping and GPS location systems. After all, a quick call on the phone will do the same thing, right? However, systems such as OnStar by GM provide an extra feature that most cell phones do not: GPS location technology. In the event of an emergency, the car can be instantly located and help can come quickly. Mapping and GPS systems also provide vehicle diagnostics, stolen vehicle assistance, and automatic crash response as options. Be sure to ask your insurance company to see if they provide discounts for these safety features.
2) Check and Adjust Your Seatbelts. This may sound somewhat rudimentary, but check all your seatbelts (not just the one you wear everyday) and make sure they work and are not twisted. In checking seatbelts, tug quickly to make sure they lock in the event of a collision, then click them into their slots to make sure they are secure. Also make sure your seatbelts are adjusted correctly; if not, slide the adjustment setting up or down to give you and your passengers the best fit.
1) Use a Hands-Free Cell Phone and Avoid Texting While Driving. The number one safety issue these days is quickly becoming how to avoid the distraction of talking on the cell phone or texting while driving. Both are hazards so serious in nature, some states have banned the use of cell phones while driving. And it's absolutely justified; how many times have each of us been in a near-accident because a distracted driver talking on his or her cell phone simply wasn't paying attention? I know in my own experience, it has been all too often. Go with a hands-free phone, and save the texting for later.
Keeping your car safe is so much easier these days in light of some amazing new vehicle technologies. However, educating yourself on the use and interpretation of these technologies is key to a safer driving experience.