The suitcases are packed, the Airbnb is booked, the older kids cannot contain their excitement and the little ones keep asking “How many more sleeps?” Whether it’s a road trip to the bush, the sea, the mountains or a trek over the border into Lesotho to see the snow, will your car get you there and back? With the South African July school holidays just a few sleeps away, here’s a helpful vehicle safety checklist to make sure you (and your car) get there in one piece.
‘Prevention is always better than cure’ and taking the time to check, fix or replace anything on your car is absolutely worth it for peace of mind and safe travels. (Breaking down in the middle of nowhere is not as fun or romantic as the movies make it out to be).
‘Life’s a journey, enjoy the ride.’ To ensure you do enjoy the ride, here is a basic vehicle safety checklist:
#1 Check your tyres
Tyre tread depth and having your wheels aligned are big vehicle safety checks before any road trip. Although tyres are a big expense to replace, it is worth doing if the tyre tread is worn. A simple temporary fix may be to rotate your tyres. (The South African law states that your treads must be at least 1.6mm deep around the tyre’s circumference).
With petrol prices sky-high, you don’t want to waste fuel by travelling long distances with low tyre pressure. (Check the suggested tyre pressure guidelines in your car’s manual).
Most of our national toll roads are in good condition, but we cannot say the same for provincial R and S roads and those less travelled to get you to Oupa’s farm in the Karoo or game viewing in the Kruger Park. Potholes and Acacia Tree thorns are an unfortunate reality and a really big problem for your tyres. There is the likelihood that you may face a tyre change along the road, so always check your spare tyre prior to departure to make sure it is not flat, and that you have all your tyre replacement tools in place as well as your warning triangle.
#2 Check your windscreen wipers
Vehicle safety check #2 is the humble windscreen wiper. Whether it is a seasonal shower, a cold front rainfall, a hail storm or ‘global warming,’ travelling in the rain can be hazardous. (Just another reason to have ticked #1 on our checklist). Your windscreen wipers (front and back) are critical safety accessories in such conditions. Worn wipers are just not up to the job, leaving streaks on your windscreen and impairing your vision. (Never mind their annoying side-to-side screeching – which is worse than the overtired toddler in the backseat).
#3 Check your lights
Travelling in the dark, the rain or suddenly coming across the mist in the Stutterheim mountains or fog in the Midlands will require you to have checked all your lights – even those on your trailer. Brake lights, headlights and fog lights all need to be working at full brightness. Don’t ignore this vital vehicle safety check. Your safety and those of others on the road depend on your car being clearly visible in all conditions and for you to see the road ahead clearly.
#4 Check your brakes
Checking your brake pads is a critical safety precaution and pre-trip vehicle check. If the inner part of your brake pads is less than 5mm thick, do not think twice about replacing them. Safety in an accident is often dependent on braking (and an undistracted driver). Sometimes your brakes may also need to be bled to eliminate air pockets and low brake fluid may minimize your brake’s response time.
#5 Check your oil levels
Checking engine fluids is a necessity before you start your travels. Motor oil is the lifeblood of your engine and is responsible for the optimum running of your car. The oil dipstick check is simple to do and inexpensive to sort out if oil is low (unless there is a chronic oil leak). But if you have blue smoke escaping your exhaust, the diagnosis may be oil seeping into the engine and being burned along with the fuel. (This could, unfortunately, mean delaying your trip).
‘Murphy’s law’ – in the form of an oil warning light on your dashboard – is likely to kick in while you are cruising ‘route 99.’ If this happens, pull over safely and turn off the engine. This is the time to call your automobile roadside assist number and make the most of this unplanned road trip ‘adventure.’
Before your itinerary, a successful road trip is ultimately based on the health and maintenance of your car. Once you have ticked the vehicle safety checklist boxes and have got the green light – you are ready to ‘hit the road, Jack.’
But, if this vehicle checklist raises some serious alarm bells or warning lights and the repair costs are more than you can justify, you may need to consider selling your car – quickly, safely and for the best cash price. You could use some of the cash to hire a car for the holidays or you may simply decide on a staycation this year and appreciate your local neighbourhood sites (or become an armchair traveller) until you have bought a more reliable vehicle.
