If you spend a lot of time on Connecticut roads, you want to make sure that you keep yourself and others safe while driving. One way to do this is by going over a car safety checklist periodically to make sure that your car is in proper working order. In this post, you can review some of the biggest risks associated with motor vehicles and driving, and determine how to ensure that your car is safe to drive. Read on for more information!

Basic Safety Checklist

Here are some basic elements to consider to make sure that your vehicle is safe:

• Are there safety belts available in the vehicle for all passengers? Do they work properly?
• Are the tires on the vehicle less than six years old?
• Are the tire tread, tire pressure, and tire sidewalls within safe levels? Are they in proper working order?
• Do you have a jack and a spare tire in your car in case one of the tires blows out or needs to be changed for some other reason?
• Does the emergency brake work?
• Do the brakes work?
• Are the windshield wipers in proper working order?
• Are the fluid levels in the vehicle at appropriate levels? For example, does the oil need to be changed? Is there enough washer fluid?
• Does the defroster in the car work?
• Does your car’s horn work?
• Are the mirrors intact and in proper working order?
• Do the vehicle’s headlights work?
• Do the vehicle’s signal turns work?
• Do the vehicle’s tail lights and brake lights work?
• Is the exhaust system in proper working order?
• If your vehicle has a trailer system, does it work properly. For example, do the lights, hitch, and chain work?
• Do you carry car insurance and is it up to date?

Making sure that all of these elements of your vehicle work is essential in preventing accidents and keeping yourself and passengers safe.

Additional Safety Elements to Check

In order to be prepared for an emergency, consider the following elements in your vehicle:

• Do you have flares and triangle reflectors in your vehicle?
• Do you carry a fire extinguisher and first aid kit in your car?
• Do you have food and water in the car in case of an emergency?
• Do you carry emergency repair tools such as fluids, jumper cables, phone chargers, etc.?
• Do you have items to assist in bad weather, such as sand, a shovel, an ice scraper, etc.?
• Have you set up emergency procedures and know what to do in the event of being pulled over, being involved in an accident, etc.?

Staying Safe on the Roads

Considering these questions and preparing ahead of time to avoid an issue on the road. If you do run into trouble, for instance if you are pulled over, you are involved in an accident, or the police suspect that your vehicle is not safe, contact our office for assistance. We are happy to help you and defend the situation that you find yourself in.