Image from Toyota Advanced Driving
With the festive season fast approaching and with families planning to head off to many of our wonderful holiday locations, it is also sadly a time when many people lose their lives due to reckless driving and vehicles that are not roadworthy.
People spend months planning ahead and saving for that well earned break from work but having the car checked is normally left till the last minute when tanks are filled , windscreens cleaned and tyres are inflated.
It goes without saying that people should book their car in for a service well in advance even if it’s just for a general check up. One of the most important aspects of the vehicle that is often overlooked with disastrous consequences, the tyres. Fitting new Tyres are generally regarded as a “grudge” purchase and therefore owners often want to “squeeze” the last few kilometers out of the existing set.
The importance of tyres cannot be overemphasized, being the primary transmission source of the power and grip which dictates how the vehicle accelerates, brakes and corners it is imperative to ensure acceptable tread still exists and are inflated to the correct tyre pressures. Correct pressures play a vital role in the performance of the tyres not only suitable wear patterns and life , but also the handling, stability of the vehicle, fuel economy and comfort.
A simple look at the tyre tread will indicate whether they have been over or under inflated. Excessive wear on the shoulders indicates under inflation and excessive wear on the centre indicates over inflation. By the ensuring your tyres are inflated to the correct manufactures recommendation will increase the “contact” patch and make your drive a lot safer and comfortable.
Accidents very rarely just happen – they are caused and there are many factors that contribute to accidents namely;
• Disregard for traffic rules and regulations
• Excessive speed for prevailing conditions
• Variable road and weather conditions
• Aggressive and reckless drivers
• Use of drugs or alcohol
• Unroadworthy vehicles
• Unskilled drivers
• Road Rage
Given all the variables in any given road traffic situation , driving requires a high level of concentration as the brain is required to process vast amounts of information and therefore the faster you drive the quicker you have to make life saving decisions.
“The worst driver is the one who is convinced he is the best driver in the world” Robert Henn
[Info from Toyota Zone]
Image from Toyota Advanced Driving
Also view:
Advanced Driving and Road Safety