How you fare when your vehicle fails is often a matter of how you respond. The decisions you make are important and can have positive or negative consequences. Fortunately, most problems are preventable.
Prevention and preparedness are key:
- Get in the habit of conducting periodic safety checks to make sure your vehicle is in good operating condition.
- A safety check includes tires, lights, belts, hoses, fluids and windshield wipers.
- Read your owner’s manual to clearly understand which dash lights or signals indicate your vehicle is not operating properly and what to do in such situations.
- Before a road trip, contact your local Auto-Lab to arrange for a test of your vehicle’s battery, starting and charging system. This can help determine how much life is left in your battery and if any other components need repairs.
- Program your cell phone with emergency numbers, including that of your roadside assistance provider, and keep a backup written list in your glove compartment.
- Always carry a well-stocked emergency kit and familiarize yourself with the use of safety flares, warning triangles and other emergency equipment.