Safety and Your Vehicle – All Questions

Your tyres are your only contact with the road. To prevent problems with braking and steering, keep your tyres free from defects; they must have sufficient tread depth and be correctly inflated. Correct tyre pressures help reduce the risk of skidding and provide a safer and more comfortable drive or ride.

Every effort must be made to prevent excessive noise, especially in built-up areas at night. Don’t rev your engine or sound the horn unnecessarily. It’s illegal to sound your horn in a built-up area between 11.30 pm and 7.00 am, except when another road user poses a danger.

Trams are powered by electricity and therefore don’t emit exhaust fumes. They ease traffic congestion by offering drivers an alternative to using their car, particularly in busy cities and towns.

Inconsiderate parking can obstruct the flow of traffic and so make traffic congestion worse. Red routes are designed to prevent this by enforcing strict parking restrictions. Driving slowly in traffic increases fuel consumption and causes a build-up of exhaust fumes.

Traffic-calming measures help to keep vehicle speeds low in congested areas where there are pedestrians and children. A pedestrian is much more likely to survive a collision with a vehicle travelling at 20 mph than they are with a vehicle travelling at 40 mph.

Catalytic converters reduce a large percentage of harmful exhaust emissions. They work more efficiently when the engine has reached its normal working temperature.

Check the tyre pressures when the tyres are cold. This will give you a more accurate reading. The heat generated on a long journey will raise the pressure inside the tyre.

Check your tyre pressures frequently – normally once a week. If they’re lower than those recommended by the manufacturer, there will be more ‘rolling resistance’. The engine will have to work harder to overcome this, leading to increased fuel consumption.

Batteries contain acid, which is hazardous, and they must be disposed of safely. This means taking them to an appropriate disposal site.

Accelerating and braking gently and smoothly will help to save fuel and reduce wear on your vehicle. This makes it better for the environment too.

Some modern batteries are maintenance free. Check your vehicle handbook and, if necessary, make sure that the plates in each battery cell are covered with fluid.

When parking at night, park in the direction of the traffic. This will enable other road users to see the reflectors on the rear of your vehicle. Use your parking lights if the speed limit is over 30 mph.

Engines that burn fossil fuels produce exhaust emissions that are harmful to health. The harder you make the engine work, the more emissions it will produce. Engines also use more fuel and produce higher levels of emissions when they’re cold. Anything you can do to reduce your use of fossil fuels will help the environment.

If you see that parts of the tread on your tyres are wearing before others, it may indicate a brake, suspension or wheel-alignment fault. Regular servicing will help to detect faults at an early stage and this will avoid the risk of minor faults becoming serious or even dangerous.

Top up the battery with distilled water and make sure each cell plate is covered.

Various route planners are available on the internet. Most of them give you several options, allowing you to choose between the most direct route and quieter roads. They may also identify rest and fuel stops. Print off the directions and take them with you.

No-one likes to spend time in traffic queues. Try to avoid busy times related to school or work travel.

If possible, avoid the early morning, late afternoon and early evening ‘rush hour’. Doing this should allow you to have a better journey, with fewer delays. This should help you to arrive at your destination feeling less stressed.

It can be frustrating and worrying to find your planned route is blocked by roadworks or diversions. If you’ve planned an alternative, you’ll feel less stressed and more able to concentrate fully on your driving or riding. If your original route is mostly on motorways, it’s a good idea to plan an alternative using non-motorway roads. Always carry a map with you just in case you need to refer to it.

Always allow plenty of time for your journey in case of unforeseen problems. Anything can happen; for example, punctures, breakdowns, road closures, diversions and delays. You’ll feel less stressed and less inclined to take risks if you aren’t ‘pushed for time’.

Using the controls smoothly can reduce fuel consumption by about 15%, as well as reducing wear and tear on your vehicle. Plan ahead and anticipate changes of speed well in advance. This will reduce the need to accelerate rapidly or brake sharply.

You should carry out frequent checks on all fluid levels but particularly brake fluid. As the brake pads or shoes wear down, the brake-fluid level will drop. If it drops below the minimum mark on the fluid reservoir, air could enter the hydraulic system and lead to a loss of braking efficiency or even complete brake failure.

Consult the vehicle handbook or a garage before driving the vehicle any further. Only drive to a garage if it’s safe to do so. If you aren’t sure, get expert help.

If this light comes on, you should have the brake system checked immediately. A faulty braking system could have dangerous consequences.

When you’re going to drive, make sure that you’re wearing suitable clothing.

Comfortable shoes will ensure that you have proper control of the foot pedals.

If you’re involved in a collision, head restraints will reduce the risk of neck injury. They must be properly adjusted. Make sure they aren’t positioned too low: in a crash, this could cause damage to the neck.

If you find that your vehicle bounces as you drive around a corner or bend in the road, the shock absorbers might be worn. To test your shock absorbers, sharply press down and release above each wheel. If the vehicle continues to bounce, take it to be checked by a qualified mechanic.

A roof rack increases your car’s wind resistance. This will cause an increase in fuel consumption, so you should remove it when it isn’t being used. An aerodynamically designed roof rack or box will help reduce wind resistance to a minimum, but the rack or box should still be removed when it isn’t in use.

Your tyres may be of different treads and makes. They can even be second-hand, as long as they’re in good condition. They must, however, be intact, without cuts or tears. When checking the side walls for cuts and bulges, don’t forget to check the side of the tyre that’s hidden from view, under the car.

Car tyres must have sufficient depth of tread to give them a good grip on the road surface. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm. This depth should be across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire circumference.

Seat belts save lives and reduce the risk of injury. If you’re carrying passengers under 14 years old, it’s your responsibility as the driver to ensure that their seat belts are fastened or they’re seated in an approved child restraint.

Rapid acceleration and heavy braking lead to increased

• fuel consumption
• wear on your vehicle.
Having your vehicle serviced regularly will maintain its efficiency, produce cleaner emissions and reduce the risk of a breakdown.

If you don’t have your vehicle serviced regularly, the engine will gradually become less efficient. This will cause increased fuel consumption and, in turn, an increase in the amount of harmful emissions it produces.

Try not to use your car as a matter of routine. For shorter journeys, consider walking or cycling instead – this is much better for both you and the environment.

Wasting fuel costs you money and also causes unnecessary pollution. Ensuring your tyres are correctly inflated, avoiding carrying unnecessary weight and removing a roof rack that’s not in use will all help to reduce your fuel consumption.

Unless exempt, you and your passengers must wear a seat belt (or suitable child restraint). The seat belts in your car must be in good condition and working properly; they’ll be checked during its MOT test.

Your vehicle will use less fuel if you avoid heavy acceleration. The higher the engine revs, the more fuel you’ll use. Using the same gear, and covering the same distance, a vehicle travelling at 70 mph will use about 15% more fuel than it would at 50 mph. However, don’t travel so slowly that you inconvenience or endanger other road users.

The brakes on your vehicle must be effective and properly adjusted. If your vehicle pulls to one side when braking, take it to be checked by a qualified mechanic as soon as you can.

If your wheels are out of balance, it will cause the steering to vibrate at certain speeds. This isn’t a fault that will put itself right, so take your vehicle to a garage or tyre fitter to have the wheels rebalanced.

Turning the steering wheel when the car isn’t moving is known as dry steering. It can cause unnecessary wear to the tyres and steering mechanism.

If you have to leave valuables in your car, lock them out of sight. This is the best way to deter an opportunist thief.

Having your car registration number etched on all your windows is a cheap and effective way to deter professional car thieves.

Never leave the vehicle registration document inside your car. This document would help a thief to dispose of your car more easily.

An unlocked car is an open invitation to thieves. Leaving the keys in the ignition not only makes your car easy to steal but could also invalidate your insurance.

Harsh braking, frequent gear changes and harsh acceleration increase fuel consumption. A car uses less fuel when travelling at a constant low speed in an appropriate high gear.

You need to look well ahead so you’re able to anticipate hazards early. Easing off the accelerator and timing your approach at junctions, for example, can reduce the fuel consumption of your vehicle.

It’s illegal to pour engine oil down any drain. Oil is a pollutant and harmful to wildlife. Dispose of it safely at an authorised site.

Emission tests are carried out to make sure your vehicle’s engine is operating efficiently. This ensures the pollution produced by the engine is kept to a minimum. If your vehicle isn’t serviced regularly, it may fail the MOT emissions test.

By looking well ahead and recognising hazards in good time, you can avoid late and heavy braking. Watch the traffic flow and look well ahead for potential hazards so you can control your speed in good time. Avoid over-revving the engine and accelerating harshly, as this increases wear to the engine and uses more fuel.

All vehicles need to be serviced to keep working efficiently. An efficient engine uses less fuel and produces fewer harmful emissions than an engine that’s running inefficiently. Keeping the vehicle serviced to the manufacturer’s schedule should also keep it reliable and reduce the chance of it breaking down.

Road humps are there for a reason – to protect vulnerable road users by reducing the speed of traffic. Don’t accelerate harshly between the humps. Put the safety of others first and maintain a reduced speed throughout the zone.

An engine can use more oil during long journeys than on shorter trips. Insufficient engine oil is potentially dangerous: it can lead to excessive wear, mechanical breakdown and expensive repairs.
Most cars have a dipstick to allow the oil level to be checked. If not, you should refer to the vehicle handbook.

It’s an offence to park on the zigzag lines of a zebra crossing. You’ll be causing an obstruction by obscuring the view of both pedestrians and drivers.

Always switch off the engine, remove the key and lock your car, even if you’re only leaving it for a few minutes.

Whenever possible, leave your car in a secure car park. This will help deter thieves.

Don’t park your vehicle where it may obstruct access to a business or property. Think carefully before you slow down and stop. Look at road markings and signs to ensure that you aren’t parking illegally.

In a collision, rapid deceleration will violently throw vehicle occupants forward and then backwards as the vehicle stops. Seat belts and airbags protect occupants against the forward movement. Head restraints should be adjusted so they give maximum protection to the head and neck during the backward movement.

Avoid using your car for short journeys. On a short journey, the engine is unlikely to warm up fully and will therefore be running less efficiently. This will result in the car using more fuel and emitting higher levels of harmful emissions.

Using a vehicle for short journeys means the engine doesn’t have time to reach its normal operating temperature. When an engine is running below its normal operating temperature, it produces increased amounts of pollution. Walking and cycling don’t create pollution and have health benefits as well.

When leaving your car, take all valuables with you if you can. Otherwise, lock them out of sight.

A security-coded radio can deter thieves, as it’s likely to be of little use when removed from the vehicle.

Having your vehicle broken into or stolen can be very distressing and inconvenient. Avoid leaving your vehicle unattended in poorly lit areas.

The Vehicle Watch scheme helps to reduce the risk of your car being stolen. By displaying high-visibility Vehicle Watch stickers in your car, you’re inviting the police to stop your vehicle if it’s seen in use between midnight and 5 am.

Although carbon dioxide is still produced, a catalytic converter fitted to the exhaust system reduces the toxic and polluting gases by up to 90%.

By driving smoothly, you’ll not only save about 15% of your fuel but will also reduce the amount of wear and tear on your vehicle and the level of pollution it produces. You’re also likely to feel more relaxed and have a more pleasant journey.

Missing out intermediate gears, when appropriate, helps to reduce the amount of time spent accelerating and decelerating – the times when your vehicle uses the most fuel.

Fuel-efficient driving is all about looking and planning further ahead. This helps raise your hazard awareness and reduces the need for late and heavy braking. This will make your journeys more comfortable, as well as considerably reducing your fuel bills and reducing emissions that can damage the environment.

The emphasis is on hazard awareness and planning ahead. By looking well ahead, you’ll have plenty of time to deal with hazards safely and won’t need to brake sharply. This will also reduce damage to the environment.

Trailers and caravans may be left in storage over the winter months, and tyres can deteriorate. It’s important to check their tread depth and also their pressures and general condition. The legal tread depth of 1.6 mm applies to the central three-quarters of a tyre’s breadth, over its entire circumference.

Accelerating uses a lot of fuel, so always try to use the accelerator smoothly. Taking your foot off the accelerator allows the momentum of the car to take you forward, especially when going downhill. This can save a considerable amount of fuel without any loss of control over the vehicle.

If you have adult passengers, it’s their responsibility to wear a seat belt, but you should still remind them to use one as they get in the car. It’s your responsibility to make sure that all children in your car are secured with an appropriate restraint. Exemptions are allowed for those with a medical exemption certificate.

Passengers should always be secured and safe. Children should be encouraged to fasten their seat belts or approved restraints themselves from an early age, so that it becomes a matter of routine. As the driver, you must check that they’re fastened securely. It’s your responsibility.

Too much oil will lead to increased pressure in the engine. This could damage oil seals and lead to oil leaks. Any excess oil should be drained off.

In journeys of unexpected necessity, and when a correct child restraint isn’t available, the child must sit on the rear seat and use an adult seat belt. In a collision, unrestrained objects and people can cause serious injury or even death.

As the driver, it’s your responsibility to make sure that children are secure and safe in your vehicle. Make yourself familiar with the rules. When children are carried on the back seat, there are a few very exceptional cases when an adult seat belt can be used instead of a correct child restraint.

If your vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for some time, you must switch off the engine unless you’re stationary in traffic or diagnosing a fault.

It’s illegal to fit a rear-facing baby seat into a passenger seat protected by an active frontal airbag. If the airbag activates, it could cause serious injury or even death to the child. You must secure it in a different seat or deactivate the relevant airbag. Follow the manufacturer’s advice when fitting a baby seat.

When you leave your vehicle parked on a road, switch off the engine and secure the vehicle. Make sure no valuables are visible, shut all the windows, lock the vehicle, and set the alarm if the vehicle has one.

ESC is a computer controlled technology that detects reduced traction and automatically makes corrective adjustments to prevent loss of control. The ESC lamp comes on to alert the driver that the system has activated and the car is approaching its handling limits. It’s a powerful driver aid but it cannot save a car once its traction limits have been exceeded.