Tyre pressure – check. Seatbelts – check. Brakes – check?
But Federal-Mogul don’t just want you to buy brakes – they want you to be safe this summer. With the 2012 festive season almost here, tens of thousands of South Africans are planning long-distance trips to visit faraway relatives or relax at the seaside. South Africa’s road accident statistics inevitably spike in this period, and too many fatalities occur because motorists don’t observe simple, essential safety precautions such as checking their brakes before departure.
Your car’s brakes should be routinely checked once a year – and what better time than before a long trip? But it’s worth knowing the signs that indicate a need for maintenance and repair, including:
- Immediate signs such as the brake warning light on the dashboard, brake-grabbing, low pedal feel, hard pedal feel or squealing
- Any out-of-the-ordinary noise, especially grinding, is a good indicator that brakes are worn
- A sudden increase or decrease in brake dust, and metal flakes on the wheels, indicate a potential problem
- If the car pulls to one side or the front end shakes during braking, these are signs of excessive brake wear
And there is more to car safety for children than good brakes alone. Ferodo would like to remind motorists of several practical tips to ensure that their families are always as safe as possible, including:
- Buckle up: small children need to be in a car seat, and older children must wear seatbelts. Being buckled up will substantially reduce the chances of injury or death in an accident – plus, it’s the law
- Look behind you: be particularly careful when you’re reversing, that there isn’t a small child standing behind your car. Backovers can happen very easily, especially in driveways, so always carefully check your mirrors and blind spots before reversing
- Look ahead, too: just like backovers, frontovers can very easily happen – particularly in driveways. Always ensure that children are not playing in front of your vehicle before you pull away
- Avoid heat stroke: it is extremely dangerous to lock a child in a car, even for short periods of time. Heat builds up rapidly and can cause serious harm, such as brain damage – and even death
- Take care with electric windows: children can easily be hurt by electric windows, if a part of their body is trapped. Ensure that you disable the window mechanism in the back of your car, to prevent injury
- Lock your car boot: ensure your boot is locked at all times. Children playing near your car may decide to hide in the boot – with potentially tragic consequences if they are trapped
- Prevent runaway vehicles: never leave children alone in a car, as they could accidentally set it in motion – again, with potentially tragic results
- Make your kids road-wise: teach children where and how to cross roads safely. Carry small children, or hold their hand, while crossing roads