Like so many other Americans, many Missourans are itching to get out of the house and on the road for some fresh air amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic and national unrest. If you’re planning to take a break from quarantine by taking the family on a road trip, make sure your car is in good shape. Vehicle maintenance is paramount to road safety. To avoid a tow, follow this checklist and make sure you and your vehicle are ready for your adventure!
To avoid an unnecessary breakdown and tow, make sure you check the following before hitting the road:
Ensure that your tires have sufficient tire pressure. However, keep in mind that it’s just as essential to ensure that your tires aren’t overfilled. For every ten degrees that the temperature rises (in Fahrenheit), your tire pressure rises by one PSI (pressure per square inch). Improperly inflated tires can lead to blowouts, flats, and other issues you don’t want to have on the road.
In addition to the tire pressure, make sure you inspect the tread on your tires. Low tread can spell disaster for wet road conditions. If your tires’ tread is too low, make sure to replace them before heading out on your trip. You need all the traction you can get during those summer thunderstorms!
You can avoid an unnecessary breakdown by ensuring that your vehicle’s fluids are topped off, and everything else under the hood is correctly working. Check the following:
While a broken air conditioner won’t leave you on the side of the road, it’ll undoubtedly make your trip uncomfortable in Missouri summer heat. Test your air conditioner before hitting the road and schedule a repair if needed.
Ensure a happy road trip with your family by following this checklist. In case of emergency, call Santa Fe Tow for 24/7 roadside assistance!
If you don’t already have a well-equipped emergency kit in your vehicle, make sure to pack one before your trip this summer. Such a kit may include:
Your vehicle’s brakes are essential for your safety and the safety of other motorists on the road. Ensure that your brakes are in good working order by checking the pads and rotors. If your brakes make strange sounds while being used, you may have worn the brake pads down. Schedule a brake inspection and the necessary repairs before leaving on your trip.
Make sure that all of your vehicle’s lights are in working order. Check your headlights, foglights, brights, turn signals, and brake lights. Your lights are essential to road safety and are the primary way motorists can communicate with each other. Don’t drive without all of your lights; it’s unsafe!
Sometimes, even if you’ve wholly prepared your vehicle for your trip, unexpected breakdowns happen. Here’s what to do in case of a breakdown on the highway:
In case you cannot contact emergency services, get back in your vehicle with your seatbelt on. Turn your hazard lights on as well.
If you need an emergency tow truck in Kansas City, MO or the surrounding areas, call the professionals at Santa Fe Tow Service today for 24/7 roadside assistance. We are following all CDC and state-recommended guidelines to help curb the spread of COVID-19.