Staying Safe with Routine Auto Inspections

http://www.motociti.com/blog/?p=181

The National Automotive Council (NAC) has strongly recommended better regulation of auto inspection so that vehicles on the road, whether they are cars in Lagos or elsewhere in Nigeria, are able to handle the roads safely. The obvious concern is the number of accidents that not only create considerable traffic congestion but also result in serious injuries and possible loss of life. Auto inspections though shouldn’t necessarily be the responsibility of public officials. Owners of Nigerian cars should have routine safety inspections of the vehicles they drive. Car dealers will recommend safety inspections and may even offer repair or replacement services. A motorist ought to keep in mind a checklist of things to be inspected for the overall safety of his or her car.

Fairly used cars definitely ought to be checked every few years. The first thing ought to be on any auto safety checklist of the brakes. Given all the stop and go traffic particularly in the Lagos area, brake systems can wear down and that can cause some very serious problems. It doesn’t take much to check the brake pads and whether or not corrosion is affecting the brake linings. The tyres themselves have to be checked as far as the tread is concerned but that is a fairly easy task to do. Fluids such as what is in the transmission system require inspection every several thousand Kilometers and may have to be changed for safety sake. The oil has to be changed at least every 3 to 5000 Km.

This is all about keeping the car and safe working order. Other things have to be looked at include the suspension system and the battery itself. Engine blocks ordinarily last for a good number of years the same can’t be said of the alternator or the distributor. Once these two items start to wear down, the entire electrical system of any car is in danger of faltering. That can certainly pose serious trouble should it happen on the open road. Safety also includes other things besides the body of the car itself. Safety equipment including a car jack and a lug wrenches ought to be standard equipment. Have a toolbox tucked away in the trunk can prove invaluable when an emergency arises. A number of the new models of cars for sale have features that are connected to a smart phone. These, however, are not readily available in the showcase but a driver should always have some form of communication where there is a CB radio or a smart phone in the car at all times. No one really knows when emergency will happen that requires a tow truck or other assistance to come immediately.

Safety inspections are not meant to frighten a motorist into thinking his or her car is a death trap. It is logical to understand that these inspections and necessary repairs and life onto the vehicle. Staying vigilant as far as oil and transmission fluids will keep the car running smoothly, and all of the elements of a complete auto inspection guarantee a safer ride for the person behind the wheel.