Properly maintenance can prevent car accidents

If you are driving in the Madison, Wisconsin area, you need to do what you can to prevent car accidents. Safe driving requires more than just following speed limits and traffic rules. You also need to maintain your vehicle. If you get involved in a car accident, you may be responsible if the accident results from your failure to properly maintain your vehicle. Heeding these warning signs can help you avoid liability.

1. Worn Tires

Your tires provide one of the most important safety details on your car. Proper tread helps your tire grip the road and avoid slipping or skidding off the road or into another vehicle. You will experience wet or icy roads in the Madison area; if your tires are wearing down, replace them before they create problems.

2. Wheel Alignment

Besides the tread itself, if your car’s wheels are out of alignment, you may veer out of your lane or struggle to steer out of trouble. A car that drifts in one direction or shows uneven tread wear probably needs an alignment.

3. Brake Problems

Brakes, before they give out, give warning signals that you need to address. If your brakes squeal or grind, it means the brake pads or rotors are wearing down. A spongy feel to your brakes likely means you are losing brake fluid. Address these signs so you can stop when you need to do so.

4. Shocks and Suspension

If your vehicle is sitting low, or seems to move too much when you hit a bump, you may have suspension problems. These affect your vehicle’s reaction and can lead to accidents. Look to repair suspension issues as soon as you notice them.

5. Dashboard Lights

Your vehicle has warning signals for both general and specific problems. Never assume that a warning light is meaningless or just a fuse problem. Repairing issues your car warns you about helps keep you and other drivers safe on the road.

Cars are safer today than ever before, in part because of the warning signals they provide. Maintain your vehicle properly to stay safe when you drive.