Galway Advertiser, Thursday, October 7, 2021

As winter approaches, tire safety is of paramount importance.

This week is Road Safety Week, and AA Ireland urges motorists to ensure that their vehicles are operating properly through the necessary inspections.

The traffic volume has returned to 95% of pre-pandemic levels. As more and more people return to work in the office, the AA also encourages all motorists to spend more time on their way to and from get off work, and pay special attention to vulnerable road users. .

AA provides a useful checklist that can be performed to avoid malfunctions, including checking the condition of the tires, starting the engine, and checking the wipers.

Check tire condition

Wednesday, October 6th is Tire Safety Day. With the return of rain and typical winter weather, more cars returned to the road. If the car is left unused for a long time, the tires may lose some pressure, so checking before running at school or going to the office should be a priority.

It is also important to check the current condition of the tires to ensure that they are legal on the road. In Ireland, the minimum legal requirement for tire tread depth is 1.6 mm.

"Our AA rescue team told us to change tires when the tread depth is less than 3 mm to best protect you and your family," said Anna Cullen of AA Ireland.

"As in the case of tires, a car will be left unused for a long period of time, which will cause the battery to run low or malfunction, and refuse to start when the car is used again for the first time. The battery should usually be replaced every five years-but if you stay for a longer period of time Without replacing the battery, it is likely that your car may be difficult to start when it is not in use," Cullen added.

This is also a good opportunity for some car maintenance before winter. When the temperature drops, the weaker battery will struggle more. Therefore, if the battery is approaching its service life, please replace it immediately and avoid cold shoulders.

It is important to check whether the car has the right amount of coolant, and if necessary, add the correct type of antifreeze.

"Our AA rescue team told us that when checking the coolant, don’t forget to check the engine oil and top it up if necessary. According to the manufacturer’s guidelines, you may need to check the oil level every two weeks, especially on long trips. Before," Cullen said.

Cullen also added, “If you find that your car has a high usage rate, it may indicate a problem with the engine and you should seek emergency help.”

In addition to checking the coolant and oil through the hood, it is also important to check the condition of the spare tire. Check that all emergency tools provided with the car are still in working condition. Familiarity with how to use these tools can help prevent roadside panic in the event of a breakdown or tire puncture.

Check if the wiper is worn

"As winter gets closer, you may need wipers more and more, which means it is important to check the current condition of the blades," said Anna Cullen from AA Ireland.

When they wear out, the wiper blades can stain the windshield and may reduce visibility. Replacing the wiper blades before the wiper blade reaches this stage (usually a set of wiper blades should last for 12 months) can make driving safer, and if the visibility is reduced on a dark and humid winter night, it can also reduce other road users risks of.

Keep the lights clean and working

See and be seen. Keep all lights clean and working-don't forget indicator lights, brake lights and fog lights. In inclement weather, wipe them with a damp cloth during driving breaks.

Make sure the battery is working

The battery should usually be replaced every five years-ensuring that the battery is replaced before it reaches its expected life can save a lot of inconvenience and time on the roadside. If the car is difficult to start, it is usually a sign of a low battery. When the weather gets cold, this will definitely get the driver out, because the battery has to work harder at low temperatures.

Keep rodents away from vehicles

As the weather gets colder and wetter, cars are ideal nesting sites for rodents. To prevent this from happening, please perform these checks, including not placing cat food or dog food near the vehicle, running the engine regularly, spraying with deterrent odors, and using strong light.

Read more about vehicle safety inspections on the AA's blog.

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