With school back in session for many children and teenagers across the country, the Car Care Council, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of regular car maintenance, has released a new video to provide drivers with a checklist they should review before the new academic year.
"There is always a lot to do before school starts and making sure your vehicle is running safely and efficiently should be at the top of that 'to-do' list," said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council in a statement. "Our new back-to-school video offers maintenance and safety tips to help parents and their precious passengers travel safely to and from school and all kinds of activities."
Back-to-School Checklist
While regular care maintenance is recommended year-round, the nonprofit released the checklist to ensure kids are safe on the road as they head to school. According to the Back to School video, the five main areas drivers should pay attention to in order to to be "school ready" and safe for the road are:
- Check lights and wipers for visibility and wear and tear.
- Schedule an annual brake inspection with a licensed professional.
- Inspect tires for under inflation or excessive wear.
- Always make sure all passengers are buckled up.
- Consider installing a back-up detection device.
Regarding regular brake inspection, the nonprofit warned drivers to pay attention to their brakes and never ignore warning signs that something may need attention. For example, the Car Care Council released a list of the main warning signs motorists should watch out for:
- Noise: screeching, grinding or clicking noises when applying the brakes.
- Pulling: vehicle pulls to one side while braking.
- Low Pedal: brake pedal nearly touches the floor before engaging.
- Hard Pedal: must apply extreme pressure to the pedal before brakes engage.
- Grabbing: brakes grab at the slightest touch to the pedal.
- Vibration: brake pedal vibrates or pulses, even under normal braking conditions.
- Light: brake light is illuminated on your vehicle's dashboard.
Scheduling a brake inspection to check for these primary warning signs is imperative for drivers, whether they are headed back to school, work or for an exciting summer vacation.
Summer heat wave preparedness
Although the fall is one the way, those first few school days are still in the summer season. In addition to back to school readiness, automotive mechanics also recommend that drivers make sure their vehicles are safe to drive in the hot summer weather. While it is best practice to have your car inspected regularly, extreme weather conditions, such as a summer heat wave, can cause problems for newer and older vehicle models.
"[Have] periodic inspections, [take] it to a technician to let them look at it, put it up in the air, see if there's any potential warning signs," automotive shop owner Randy Russell told CBS19.
The importance of having an effective braking system for your motor vehicle cannot be understated. If you would like to address a problem or enhance your existing brake system, contact Greening Associates today for a complimentary brake testing consultation.