Now that summer vacation is in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to get back into swing with the fall season and start of the school year. That means that there are more vehicles on the road and schoolchildren are out and about. Driver safety is important right now, especially with the added number of bike and foot traffic along with upcoming changes to daylight hours. In this month’s blog, we share ideas for getting your vehicle “carpool” ready for school with fall vehicle maintenance and share some tips on safe driving habits.
Fall Vehicle Maintenance
With the school year underway, it is a suitable time to ensure that your vehicle is equipped for the seasonal changes, especially if you are part of a carpool. Here is a brief list of maintenance items to get your vehicle working well:
- Oil and filter change
- Brake inspection
- Fluid check (coolant, brake, power steering)
- Tire tread inspection and tire rotation
Visibility is also an important maintenance item for this time of year. As temperatures begin to change in the later part of the day, or early morning, you may experience more mornings or dusks with light fog.
Key visibility items to service include the following:
- Windshield wipers – If your wipers are not performing well, you may hear a squeaking sound, or they may leave streaks. It does not take much to replace them and keep your windshield clean. Don’t forget to replace any rear blades as well.
- Windshield – If your windshield has any cracks or pits from road debris, you may want to check with your insurance company to find out what is covered by insurance. Small cracks or pits usually turn into large ones, so it’s advisable to get any windshield damage repaired. Clean your front and rear windshields with ammonia to wipe off any grime that may have accumulated through summer weather. When your vehicle heats up, the chemicals in your dashboard and interior components can off-gas a light film on to your glass.
- Headlights and Taillights – If you have any inoperable headlights or taillights now is the time to have them replaced. Have someone in your household assist you with a simple light check by standing in front and in the back of the vehicle as you use the brakes and turn on the headlights and dimmers. Make sure that if the vehicle is running that it is in park. Check your turn signals too.
Fall Safe Driving Tips
Staying safe during the fall season is critical for you and your passengers, as well as pedestrians and vehicles on the road. Here are a few tips to stay safe this fall:
- Be patient with additional traffic, and always maintain posted speed limits
- Always observe flashing lights in school areas, and stop at any crosswalks with flashing lights or stop signs
- Never pass a stopped school bus, unless you are on a divided road but be vigilant for children
- Anticipate that children at play or walking home from school are not paying attention to vehicle traffic, especially when crossing the street or riding their bicycles
- Use your vehicle’s automatic lights, or make sure that your headlights are on at dawn and dusk
- Stay alert to animals (especially deer) during twilight dawn and dusk hours. Deer are more active in the fall season.
As you prepare for the fall, make sure to get your vehicle maintenanced and stay alert to changes in driving conditions. If you would like to have your vehicle serviced for “back to school”, contact the service professionals at Car Kings to schedule an appointment.