Don't rely on men, says survey
Doing your own car maintenance makes you safer
Women drivers who rely on others to carry out essential safety checks on their vehicles, and are being badly let down, putting lives at risk. And more than a third of women drivers (35 per cent) rely on their partners or fathers to check their tyres (compared to six per cent of men). Yet in most cases these checks are not carried out frequently enough, according to a survey from breakdown service Green Flag.
Poorly maintained tyres can lead to fatal crashes and the tread depth, pressure and condition of tyres should be checked at least once a week. Almost 90 per cent of women drivers who rely on someone else to check tyres have them checked once a fortnight or less often.
Just 10 per cent of women drivers surveyed take responsibility for checking their own tyres at least once a week -- though most men (32 per cent) still don't bother either. Of those who do, 30 per cent check their own tyres fortnightly or monthly and a shocking one in five (20 per cent) check their own tyres just once every three months or less.
The survey interviewed 789 drivers (407 men and 378 women), and is published in The Green Flag Report on Safe Driving: Are you ready to drive?
Incorrectly inflated, bald and damaged tyres can lead to fatal crashes and increased fuel consumption, and a driver can be fined £2,500 for each tyre found to be illegal on their vehicle. The survey showed many drivers not only fail to carry out regular checks, but lack the basic knowledge to carry out checks properly in the first place. Fewer than a third of drivers (32 per cent) surveyed knew the minimum legal tread depth for tyres on their vehicle: it's 1.6mm for cars and vans and 1mm for motorbikes, trucks and buses.
Many women drivers also rely on others to conduct vital checks of lights and indicators, and oil and water levels. A quarter of women rely on others to check their lights, and more than a third (35 per cent) do not check their oil and water levels themselves. Men fared better with only 7 per cent admitting they did not check their own lights, and seven per cent leaving oil and water checks to other people. Only 12 per cent of women checked their own lights at least once a week, half that of their male counterparts (25 per cent).
To help avoid potentially fatal problems with tyres, drivers should:
- Check all tyres for cuts, cracks, bulges or other damage before every journey. If you find any, consult your garage immediately.
- Check tyre pressure weekly, when the tyres are cold, at a garage or using a hand-held tyre pressure gauge. Incorrectly-inflated tyres wear out more quickly and lead to higher fuel consumption. The correct pressure will be written in a vehicle's handbook and sometimes on the inside of a vehicle's door.
- Check the tyre tread at least once a month. The legal minimum is 1mm for motorbikes and commercial vehicles and 1.6mm for cars and vans, but any less than 3mm may be dangerous in wet or icy conditions. Car tyres have tread wear indicator bars to help you check tread against the legal minimum.
- Never buy part-worn, re-treads or second-hand tyres.
To help avoid potentially fatal problems with lights and indicators, drivers should:
- Check your lights are clean and bulbs have not blown at least once a week, with the help of a friend if necessary or by shining your lights against a wall at night.
- Check lenses are not faded, smashed or cracked. If they are, they should be replaced as soon as possible.
- Carry spare fuses and bulbs in the vehicle in case one blows while on a journey.
To help avoid problems with oil and water levels, drivers should:
- Look underneath the vehicle before setting off on every journey, to check for oil and water leaks.
- Once a week, when the engine is cold and the vehicle is parked on level ground, check the engine oil level. The level should be between the maximum and minimum level indicators. Overfilling the engine oil can also cause problems.
The water levels in the battery also need to be checked weekly. In most modern vehicles, batteries are sealed and can be checked by looking at the coloured indicator on the top of the battery. Check the vehicle's handbook for a guide on what the colours mean. For older vehicles, water levels can be checked by removing the screw tops on the battery and making sure the electrodes are covered with water.
Look underneath the vehicle before setting off on every journey, to check for oil and water leaks.
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Yep, still leaking, still a TVR.
One questions the practicability of this advice. How many people actually get on their hands and knees in the snow, sludge and rain to check under the car.
Ian A.
I do maintenance on both mine and my wife's car and doing your own maintenance definately improves reliability. As I'm changing the oil I think "That water hose looks like it's rubbing on bare metal. I'll just put some tape round it to protect it and tie wrap it into a better position"
Must sort out that dodgy fuel pipe I noticed whilst under the car for no apparent reason.
But there are many places like that which is why mechanics have a bad name. Personally I never take my car to one as I don't trust them. Most jobs aren't too diffficult to do yoruself.
How many people wait until the tyres are cold. Garage air hose pressure guages are notoriously innacurate anyway.
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