Get ready for your car to go to school

Now is the time to return to school, we hope to help families prepare their vehicles, prepare for car pools, play dates, football matches, etc. An informative new document from a non-profit organization provides the driver with a five-point list that will be completed by the start of the school year.

There is always a lot to do before starting school, and it is important to ensure that your car travels safely and efficiently. Our new back-to-school video provides maintenance and safety tips to help parents and their valuable passengers safely travel to and from school and events.

Here, we want to emphasize five aspects that should be checked to ensure that the vehicle is child safe and road prepared:

1. Check the visibility of the lights and wipers. Due to the short day ahead and the bad weather, make sure the lights and wipers are working properly so that you can see and be seen. Check the wiper blade for signs of wear and replace if necessary.
2. Check the brakes once a year. The brake system is the most important safety function of the car. Make sure your brakes are functioning properly before the carpool season. Arrange a brake check and look for warning signs that the vehicle may require brake repair, such as a lighted brake light or a scream, grind or squeak when braking.
3. Check if the tire is under-inflated or excessively worn. Check tire pressure and refill inflated tires, including spare tires, and check for uneven wear and tread depth.
4. Make sure everyone is wearing a seat belt. Important notes on the installation and location of seat belts are available on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website. For young people on the bus, the website has information on how to install a car seat, as well as a guide to choose a car seat or booster based on the age and size of the child.
5. Consider an alternate test device. Consider installing an alternate detection device that provides a rear view video or warning sound when reversing. While drivers should not rely solely on these devices, they can help reduce the risk of reversing accidents while following other NHTSA prevention tips.