Driving Safely Starts Before Getting Into The Vehicle
65I drove a school bus for a short period and while in training I learned some very useful tips that I follow before driving my car that I would like to share.We as school bus drivers had to do these checks daily and I feel it is a good habit to get into, no matter what type of vehicle you are driving.
Outside The Vehicle
Car Check
- Do a walk around the vehicle to visually check tires to see that they are properly inflated. When in doubt use a tire gauge.
- Check to make sure that there is no debris such as broken branches or garbage that may have accumulated around your vehicle while it was parked.
- Check that windows are clear and clean.
Under The Hood
- Check oil, transmission oil, brake fluid, coolant reservoir and windshield washer fluid levels.
- Check belts (serpentine and timing) making sure that they are free of cracks or other damage. The timing belt should not be loose.
- Check hoses to be sure that they are not cracked.
- Check battery terminals to make sure they are clean and that there is no corrosion.
Useful Tips
With the ever changing weather conditions drivers can never be 100% sure of what lies ahead of them on their journey. It is always better to be safe than sorry. During the rainy and snowy months check your local news station, weather channel or online road reports before heading out.
Spare tire should be in or under the vehicle and ready to use if needed.
Handy Items To Keep In The Vehicle
Make sure that your windshield washer reservoir is topped up and it is a good idea to have an extra bottle in your vehicle. If you live in a colder climate be sure to have a fluid that is rated for -40°F or Celsius, during the cold winter months.
- Extra coolant, brake and transmission fluid and engine oil.
- Booster cables.
- A charged cell phone in case of a breakdown or other emergency.
- Small tool kit.
- First aid kit.
- Flashlight and batteries.
- Road flares.
- Small fire extinguisher.
- Tire gauge.
- Bottled water.
In the winter months if you live where there is snow you should always have the above plus the following:
- An ice scraper and snow brush.
- Warm clothing and appropriate footwear.
- A blanket.
- Small shovel and a traction aid.
During the winter months,in snowy areas, it is a good idea to keep your gas tank 1/2 full at at all times as you never know with stormy conditions how long it will take you to defrost and warm up your vehicle.
Helpful Vehicle Items
 | Amazon Price: $69.25 List Price: $149.99 |
Be Prepared
With the RoadPro you will never again have to worry about getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with a dead battery or low tire pressure.
Related Articles
- Merge People Merge!
How to properly merge onto a freeway with video. - Don't Talk and Drive On Your Phone
Put that cell phone down while driving and stay alive.
 | Amazon Price: $34.25 List Price: $39.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $14.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $24.95 List Price: $29.99 |
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (9)
- Funny
- Awesome (2)
- Beautiful (1)
- Interesting (5)
CommentsLoading...
This hub is very informative.. especially for me as a victim already by a car accident. I really learn a lot.. thanks for sharing this hub..:)
Prasetio, Thanks so much for reading and for your comments and vote :)
I wish I could by a new car and I'll practice your tips above. Very inspiring hub. Susan, thanks for share with us. You got my vote. Have a good day. Cheers...
Prasetio
Sue, Thanks.
I don't drive but this is very useful information.
Voted up and awesome.
Truckstop Sally, I remember teaching my sons how to parallel park. It was quite a challenge :) Thanks for your comments.
Sunshine, No snow but I've been in some of those torrential rain storms and hurricanes you have in Florida, and I almost think I like the snow better :) Thanks for your comments.
Lorna, Thank you.
In my state they are requiring 16 year-olds to actually drive as part of the driver's license process (not so when my 2 older kiddos got their licenses). My youngest just turned 16, and part of his test will be to show that he is checking the exterior (as you mention) and to demonstrate he knows how to turn on the lights, windshield wipers, etc. Of course, the biggest part is parallel parking. We need to keep practicing that one! Great hub. Thanks for sharing.
I would add water too!
Great tips Susan! I always have our cars well maintened by a shop we trust. Living in Florida we don't have to worry about snow! YAY!!! Fantastic hub!!
Ruby, Leaving a child asleep on a bus, that is scary.
Good advice Susan. We just had an incident here when a child was left on the bus. ( She was asleep ) Scary...Thank's
MM, Thanks for your comments and for reading. Have a great day.
Hello Susan, some great advice here, and a good reminder to 'be prepared' driving in the winter months.
Thank you for sharing, best wishes MM
aceblogs, Broken axle ouch! Thanks for reading and for your comments.
Alekhouse, Thank you.
Really helpful hub...informative with lots of good tips.
Very useful it is and made me remind of the fact that my car has got a broken has got a broken axle which i have to get repaired tomorrow . thanks for the tips mate !
Hyphenbird, Thanks, that would make writing it so worth it.
Seeker, Thanks so much.
An excellent hub and many of the tips I'm sure - in the winter months especially - could potentially save a life. It's amazing how just a little more thought and a few checks can make all the difference between getting to your destination safely or being stranded!
Voted up!
You have some great tips in here. Thank you for such a great tutorial! Just think, your Hub can save a life or at least reduce the chance of inconvenience to someone.
carco, Thanks for reading and for your comments.
Absolutely right, especially with our cold winters, being prepared is extremely important. Having roadside assistance, cell phones, emergency roadside kits and a properly maintained car can all save your life. Thanks for sharing your expertise!
Dave, CAA is a great thing to have. My husband and I do most of the work on our vehicles. It is something we both enjoy. Thanks for your comments.
Joan and Snurre, Thanks for reading and for your comments.
Very useful tips here, Susan! A lot of drivers neglect safety and we know what becomes of them. I still can't persuade my husband to get a first aid kit for the car.
Great info. Very helpful for those of us who aren't so car savvy. Thanks.
I've been driving 48 years now. Every vehicle I owned I knew intimately, by their sound,feelings,smells,
response. I could see and feel and hear and smell, and sense if there was something not quite right. I maybe wasn't a mechanic, but I had one I trusted and used.
Also I have always kept things like safe spare tires,auto fluids, cables,flat tire stop leak,etc. on hand foe emergencies and most importantly I have CAA Premium Service plan and their emergency number on speed dial in my cell.
These are some very excellent tips... I have fallen into bad habits. I will check this stuff before every long trip, but usually on most days I just jump in the car. That being said.... I once blew my mom's car's engine because of a lack of oil. Yep - that was an expensive repair! But, now that you mention it... I really should get those jumper cables in there!
RH & Flora, Thanks so much. Glad you liked the hub. I've always been mechanically inclined and spent many hours with my dad out in the garage working on his vehicles as well as re-building a car engine with Al. This weeks Inspiration Topic was one that I enjoyed doing.
Great tips-and not an angle someone has used yet this week.
I'm sharing this on FB! Excellent tips! Getting stranded is no fun and especially for females! I constantly worry about my 23 yr old driving around alone....I packed her trunk with a kit just like you have listed as soon as she turned 16 and got her car. This would be a fabulous gift idea for parents with teen aged drivers! We left the car sitting on the lawn and I already had it in the trunk. We also showed her how to properly use a tire gauge and cables.
Love it!
Just Ask Susan Hub Author 6 months ago
kingphillipIV, Yes I read about your accident and hope that you are well. Thank you for coming by and for your comments.