Summer is upon us in Australia, and despite the rain, you still may be planning on taking a summer holiday or road trip. With extra travel, certain precautions for your vehicle should be taken to ensure you and your family can travel safely and without concerns.
Check your tyres
One of the first steps should be checking and preparing your tyres. You should start with getting up close to the tyres and looking for any visible signs of punctures, excessive wear, cuts, or objects such as nails that are embedded. All of these could result in flat or deflated tyres, and can impact your safety. You should also use this as an opportunity to check your spare tyre as well in case you need to use it on your trip. Before travelling, tyres should also be pumped up to the recommended tire pressure (PSI). The right PSI will change depending on the type and size of your vehicle. Make sure to pump the tyres to the correct pressure to avoid loss of stability or control whilst turning and handling. To find the correct PSI for your vehicle, have a look at websites such as this one.
Check for anything impairing your vision while driving
Holiday travel can mean excessive bags (and people) packed into your vehicle. Before leaving, check that nothing packed is impacting your vision, particularly through the rear window. You should also ensure that your windscreens and windows are clean and free from dirt. Clean them inside and out, and refill your windscreen washer fluid.
Check your roadside assistance
Nobody likes to be stranded on the side of the road, especially with a car full of family members or kids. Before leaving, check your roadside assistance is up to date and what cover you have. This can help you avoid getting stuck anywhere if your car runs into issues. If you don’t have roadside assistance and you’re going to be travelling a lot over summer, look into it and you could save your family from a stressful road trip.
Check under the bonnet
Your oil and other necessary fluid levels should be checked. If you’re unsure how to do this yourself, you can find some tips and tricks here, or ask a friend/family member or professional to do a once over before you leave for your holiday. Properly and regularly changed or replaced fluid levels ensure your engine works at its full capacity and reduces the risk of overheating or engine failure.
Emergency kit
Every car should have a fully-stocked emergency kit all year round, however, this is particularly important when travelling long distances or more frequently than usual. Your emergency kit should be stocked with jumper cables and basic tools for your car, and things like a torch and toilet paper for your family!
Overall check-up
Make sure everything from your wipers, to your indicators, and your brakes are in good working order. Ideally, these should be checked in advance so anything can be replaced or fixed before your trip. Listen for any unusual noises such as squeaking from your brakes, and make sure that your wipers aren’t leaving any streaks or mess that can obscure your vision. Your indicators should also all be checked to avoid any accidents on the road.
Have fun!
Perhaps the most important tip of all. While ensuring your vehicle is up to scratch before leaving is vital, don’t let it cause stress or anxiety before your travel. With these quick and easy tips, your vehicle and your family will be ready for a summer holiday in no time.
Auto Leaders locations will be operating across the summer holiday period. Don’t forget to ask about our free roadside assistance when you book your car in for your next service.
