subject: Driving Lessons - Vehicle Checks [print this page] . Its important to remember it is your responsibility and yours alone to ensure your car is completely road worthy. If something was to happen like you were in an accident, even a very minor one, if your car is seen to have a defect them the blame could suddenly come tumbling down onto you. And even worse you could be prosecuted. So its no laughing matter and failure to do so could be life changing.
Each item you need to check are just as important as each other although some will have more of an impact at increasing the possibility of being in an accident. You must ensure your tyres are safe and this check should be carried out every day. The tread depth for each of your tyres should be no lower than 1.6mm, across the centre three quarters of the tyre and the entire circumference. This you may feel doesnt need to be check every day as the tread wont decrease with speed. However you must look for damage that can be picked up at any time like cuts and slashes which youre likely to pick up especially if you brush a kerb. Also it is possible to have a tyre with a weakened side wall so you must look for bulges that might appear. If you see one you must get the tyre changed right away and only travel at slow speed as the tyre may otherwise burst, resulting in potential lethal consequences.
Next check your lights are working. Turn your main lights on and have a look at the front and rear, then check your indicators individually to make sure theyre working properly. Its not good enough to check the indicators by using the hazard lights as the wiring is different for using the individual indicators. The hazard lights may be working perfectly but this doesnt mean the indicators will be. Then have a quick check of your break lights by either using a reflection or getting someone else to look for you.
Check under the bonnet. Make sure you have enough water for your windscreen washers by having a peak in the windscreen washer tub. Next check the oil. Locate the dip stick, wipe it with a tissue and dip it back in, pull it out and check the oil is between the minimum and maximum markers. Its very important the oil level is between these markers or your engine will be damaged while its running. The have a quick check of the brake fluid level and the engine coolant.
Once youve made these checks then you are more or less ready to go. Of course most people dont do these checks every single day, but try and do them on a regular basis. Once a week would normal be enough to make sure youre not a danger to others.
