Top 5 Things Every Car Driver Should Check Before Going on a Long Journey

Whilst modern cars are exceptionally reliable these days, when you are planning on going on a long drive or a holiday then there are some basic checks that take no more than five to ten minutes to complete which you should carry out for your own peace of mind and to save you from a long wait for a recovery van at the edge of the road. Check out these top 5 tips for car drivers: 1 – Check tyre pressure. It is important to check the type pressures in your car as by driving with flat or tyres with uneven pressure can cause handling problems which might lead to an accident if you're not careful. Having tyres with uneven pressures will also cause the tyres to wear out more quickly meaning that you might have to replace them much sooner, costing you money. 2 – Check lights are working. You should always check to see if your lights are working correctly on the car, including headlights for better visibility in the night to the brake lights, so that other drivers can see that you are stopping. This can help stop an accident and is very important. If you want to be a careful driver then you might consider carrying around a spare set of bulbs in your car. In some countries this is a mandatory law, meaning you have to. 3 – Check oil levels. To function correctly your car requires that it is topped up with the correct engine oil. Whilst cars these days are very reliable and actually require very little maintenance outside of a professional garage, it is still a good idea to habitually check these levels. 4 – Check windscreen washer reservoir. If you don't have screen-wash, then your windscreen will get dirty very quickly in bad weather situations and typically you'll find that the screen-wash always runs out when you're on the motorway and unable to stop to refill it. Carrying out this simple check will stop you having any hassle. 5 – Check radiator water levels. Just like engine oil, cars today typically can run for what seems like forever without requiring oil and water. However, you should check this in an older car more regularly, and if you're travelling long distances at high speed on a hot day then this check might save you a whole world of hurt. How many times have you seen a car at the side of the road with the bonnet open? Indeed, this simple check could have saved a lot of time and money, what's worse this check takes no more than sixty seconds to complete. rnSo if you are planning on taking a long drive in for example your used Renault Espace, Poole to Birmingham would be a typical length journey you should consider carrying out these checks. Following these simple tips might save you a load of trouble in the long run.