UK roads are, unavoidably, a dangerous place to be. According to statistics from UK road safety charity Brake, someone is killed or seriously injured every 16 minutes on average in Britain. Poor driving habits and pedestrian mis-steps count amongst these, but vehicles themselves also shoulder a fair degree of the burden, where failures or vehicle-caused mistakes can make accidents more likely. In this way, car safety is paramount for drivers to consider, particularly new drivers with little experience on the road. But what are the best ways in which you can make your car safer?
Regular Servicing
Firstly, it must be said that the simplest and most accessible route to making your car a safer one to drive is through regular maintenance and servicing. Poor car care accelerates the deterioration of certain parts, and increases the risk of accident or breakdown in the process. For example, failure to regularly check and top up your car’s oil guarantees that your engine will wear quicker, increasing the chance of overheating or engine seizure.
Regular servicing also extends to ensuring that your vehicles electrical and alert systems are working as they should. Faulty warning lights are an instant MOT fail for good reason, where failure to properly alert the driver to engine issue could lead to a catastrophic accident.
Attend to Your Tyres
The same philosophy applies to your car’s tyres. They are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road, and as such their integrity is paramount. Significant wear affects each tyre’s tread, reducing overall traction and increasing the risk of hydroplaning.
Rotating your tyres ensures that wear occurs evenly, but when your tyres start to approach the legal minimum, they should be replaced. You should also consider buying car tyres suitable for specific seasons or driving conditions; winter tyres have chunkier treads, and are constructed from rubber compounds that do not stiffen as much in colder weather.
Blind-Spot Alert System
Every car has a number of blind spots, typically behind the A-pillars bounding the windows. The exact location and effect of these blind spots differs from car to car, with familiarity being the most common route by which drivers compensate for their own car’s blind spots. But for newer drivers, it can be difficult to operate in this way – and dangerous in some cases. An aftermarket blind-spot detection system can alert drivers to hazards or other drivers in close proximity, making for a safer and more confident driver.
