Are You Ready For The Road?
An average of 13,000 Americans are killed between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, some as a result of neglected vehicle maintenance, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Every year, unperformed maintenance leads to more than 2,600 deaths, nearly 100,000 disabling injuries and over $2 billion in lost wages, medical expenses, and property damage.
Most mechanic failures can be traced to not performing regular maintenance. For instance, The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that the leading cause of mechanical breakdown on our nation’s highways is overheating, a condition that is easily avoided. Other deficiencies that are easy to detect include low antifreeze/coolant, loose or worn drive belts and defective cooling system hoses.
Checking your tire pressure and inflating your tires costs nothing, but on average 21% of cars inspected in check lanes during National Car Care Month have underinflated tires. This can lead to a blowout or even a serious accident.
"While a last minute checkup is better than no checkup, motorists should plan ahead to allow time to perform necessary maintenance themselves or at the local service facility. A properly maintained vehicle is safer and more dependable and will even save a few dollars at the gas pumps." said the Car Care Council's Executive Director, Rich White.
A pre-tip inspection not only helps reduce chances of costly and even dangerous road trouble, it also provides an opportunity to have repairs made at home, with one’s own technician who knows the vehicle. It provides peace of mind, which is especially important. While no inspection can guarantee a car’s performance, it’s comforting to know proper precautions were taken.
Would you like to know if your vehicle is the subject of an ongoing defect investigation? Check out the latest information on recalls, compliance testing, and technical service bulletins from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) commonly found inside the door jam or windshield, can be used to verify vehicle information such as engine, body style, transmission, drivetrain, as well as the year, make, model, and sub-model information.