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Seasonal Car Care

Summer is a favourite time to hit the open road. Whether you're packing up the car and heading to the cottage, going on an outing to the beach or touring the country on an extended road trip, it's important to keep in mind a few safety tips to help your trip go smoothly and as planned.

Safe summer driving begins here

Even if you're the safest driver on the road, those around you might not be. So, keep these tips in mind when you're the driver and the passenger:

• Wear your seatbelt. Almost 40 percent of all vehicle occupants killed are not wearing a seatbelt.
• Slow down. Excessive speed is a contributing factor in 20 percent of occupant fatalities.
• Remember to share the road. In the summer months, there's more traffic, pedestrians, trucks, bicycles and motorcycles on the road.
• Drive defensively, not aggressively.
• Maintain your vehicle with regular maintenance check-ups.
• Give your vehicle a thorough cleaning to remove salt and sand accumulated over winter. Clean under the hood, shampoo the engine and wheel wells. Wax or polish your vehicle at least twice a year to preserve its paint.
• Check all lights to ensure they're in good working order, including the headlights, brake, reverse, parking, turn indicators, hazard lights, licence plate and the high mount stop lamp.
• Make sure your tire pressure is within factory specifications. The vehicles' owner's manual will have recommendations. The information can also be found on the drivers' door jam, fuel filler or glove box door.
• Always keep your mirrors and windows clean.
• Eliminate your blind spot.
• Avoid tailgating by leaving at least two seconds between you and the car in front.
• Don't use a cell phone while driving.
• Check your wiper blades and replace if they are worn or damaged. Wiper blades are critical for safety, yet have a life span of only about 12 months.
• Change your oil every 5,000 km or 3 months (whichever comes first) and keep fluids like brake, coolant and windshield washer, topped up. If the vehicle is driven mostly on the highway, extend the oil replacement interval to 8,000 km.

See also

• Safe Summer Driving
• Battery Basics