Daily drivers know the risk of road accidents and the importance of daily safety checks. Vehicle accidents are bad for all parties involved; owner, driver, victim and more respective to the particular traffic accident scene.
For example
You are slowing down and hit the brake. Your brake lights are not working. The car behind you, didn’t see you slowing down as it was dark. It hits you. Whose fault is it? It is yours because your brake lights were not working. You are wrong if you think insurance got you covered. The insurance will only pay for the damages caused to the victim of the accident. Accidents’ occurring because of vehicle faults, the owner or driver is responsible. It is an offence to not check whether your car is functioning properly or not . In some cases, it may result in a prison sentence for the Driver. Read the GOV.UK guidelines on road safety to know more details. The UK government has legislation in place. It requires drivers to inspect their vehicles daily. It is important to carry out the daily safety checks to keep you and others safe.
What is part of our daily routine?
The moment we get into a car, we check a few things instinctively. These few things are embedded in our memory as we have been doing this for a long time. But checking only three things is not enough to complete your daily safety check. We need to add a few more things to create a complete daily safety check routine. Before you go on and create a programme, it is important to have an idea about the Equipment you need to check.
The list as follows: though not an exhaustive list
- Windshield Wipers
- Brakes
- Fifth Wheel and Kingpin
- Tyres
- Mirrors
- Horns
- Break Lights
- Head Lights
If one of the equipment mentioned in the list is not working, the car does not meet the standard regulation. Hence, you will not be able to drive the car until you fix those types of equipment.
Necessary Regular Inspections
Regular inspections do not have to be daily, you can carry them out once every week or two. We talk about some of the necessary regular inspections below:
Checking Fluids: Your car operates with the help of fluid. Without it, they cannot function. Some of them are Engine Oil, Brake Oil, and clutch. You can even check the auto transmission fluids.
Battery: Your battery is what provides power to your car. So, you need it in pristine condition. Check the surface of the battery, see if there is any corrosion or not.
Make sure to inspect the headlights and brake lights.
Tyres: Check the pressure of the tyres. Inspect their surface to see if there are any visible damages like cuts or bulges on the tyre.
All this may seem a little hard to fathom at first sight, but start and build on it. With time daily vehicle checks will become a habit for you.
To help with daily vehicle checks, RWTCS has come up with a unique product named “The Extra Foot”. The Extra Foot allows you to carry out your daily safety checks without any extra help. To know more about RWTCS and their products click here.