Ensuring a Safe Trip on the Road

*collaborative post

As a family, we love to hop in the car and head off for a spin. With so many vehicles sharing the roads today, it’s more important than ever to take steps to ensure a safe trip on the road. One item that’s particularly important is your tyres. It’s critical to check your tyres regularly to make sure you have a safe driving experience.

Here are some simple tips about tyre safety and general driving pointers to help make sure that you and your passengers get to your destination safe and sound.

Check your Tyres

1. Depth of your treads (must have a minimum of 1.6mm depth)

2. Inspect tyres for cracks or uneven wear

3. Ensure correct inflation pressure.

4. Balance & align your tyres.

5. Ensure your spare is in suitable condition for using.

6. To buy tyres in London get in touch with the nearest branch of Iverson Tyres Ltd

Correct Inflation Pressure Tyre inflation is super important. It’s best to check the tyre pressure regularly and before any long journeys. Check the manufacturer’s specifications for your vehicle.

It’s also really important to ensure that your spare tyre is properly inflated. We had a disaster a few years ago when we had a flat tyre and then discovered our spare was also flat!

Checking tyre pressures regularly will save you time and keep you safe in the long run.

Wheel Alignment & Balancing

Wheel alignment has to do with adjusting the angles of the wheels properly. Symptoms of a misaligned wheel include uneven tyre wear & pulling from a straight line.

Wheel balancing has to do with the wheels spinning properly without causing any vibrations. If you feel a vibration in the steering wheel on the motorway or cupped wear patterns on the tyres get the balancing checked out.

Tyre Condition

Tyres with signs of deterioration should be replaced and not used on the road. There are several signs of deteriorating tyres you should keep an eye out for:

1. cracking on the side wall of the tyre

2. distortion of the tyre tread

3. deformation of the main body of the tyre

4. damage

5. loss of inflation pressure

6. cuts

7. bulges

8. separated or perished rubber

9. vibrations through the tyres when you drive

Focus on driving

1. Focus on driving at all times.

2. Don’t use your phone or any other electronic device while driving.

3. Be aware of what other drivers around you are doing, and expect the unexpected.

4. Keep a 2-second cushion between you and the car in front of you and 4 seconds in bad weather.

5. Don’t get distracted by kids, passengers or pets in the car.

Make a safe driving plan

1. Leave time in your trip schedule to stop for food, rest breaks, phone calls or other business.

2. Adjust your seat, mirrors and climate controls before putting the car in gear.

3. Pull over to eat or drink. It takes only a few minutes.

Practice safety

1. Secure cargo that may move around while the vehicle is in motion.

2. Don’t attempt to retrieve items that fall to the floor while driving.

3. Always wear your seat belt & be sure passengers have theirs on too.

4. Drive sober and drug-free.

Stay in the Speed Limit

1. Regularly check your speedometer as you drive.

2. Know the limits & take notice of the signs.

3. Remember that speed limits are a maximum and not a target.

4. Many new cars let you set a speed limit that will ding if you hit it, this can help you not exceed maximum limits

Be Prepared

1. Regularly check your car’s lights, tyre pressures, brakes, water, screenwash and oil levels.

2. Make sure you always have a first aid kit in the car.

3. Have sufficient breakdown cover and insurance to protect you if you are ever involved in an incident.

For parents, it’s handy to pack some toys to keep the kids happy in the car. I prefer ones that don’t make noise as they can be distracting while driving.

With these simple safety tips in mind, driving on the roads is safer for you and everyone else. Do you have any tips to add? Let me know in the comments!