WELLBEING HEALTH & SAFETY
WORDS SUPPLIED BY VTNZ
Creating confident drivers SHARING CAR MAINTENANCE TIPS AND TRICKS WITH YOUR TEEN MOTORIST IS A GREAT WAY OF BROADENING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF VEHICLES AND HELPING THEM TO STAY SAFE ON NEW ZEALAND’S ROADS. WORDS SUPPLIED BY VTNZ
For many rural households it’s a welcome day when your young adult passes their ‘full’ test and becomes a licensed motorist. With the driving services of parents and friends no longer needed, the independence of a legally mobile teenager can be a game changer for the wider family unit. That lasts right up until they call you saying “I’ve got a flat tyre and don’t know what to do!”. Getting a driver’s licence is a significant milestone in your child’s life. Making sure they know some car maintenance basics will go a long way to help keep them safe on the road, ensure their vehicles stay in good working condition and provide the foundations for a competent and self-assured driver. With us now in Spring now is the perfect time to share some self-help tips with the drivers in your household. If your Warrant of Fitness (WoF) expired during lockdown or is now due, use these as part of your pre-WoF check before you take your vehicle into VTNZ for your next inspection:
Lights
It’s still dark in the morning so check all the lights on your vehicle are working as they should. That includes testing your indicators, park lights, brake lights and headlights (full and low beam).
Windscreen wipers
Wiper blades may need replacing particularly if they’ve had to clear a lot of rain or snow over Winter. Spray water and cleaning fluid on your windscreen and turn on your wipers. Between each sweep, check for patches or smudging on the surface. If these are appearing your wiper blades need replacing.
Seatbelts
Fully functioning seatbelts are essential for you, and your passengers, safety. To check a seatbelt is working correctly, pull it all the way out and then tug on it sharply to ensure it stops. Remember to do this on all the seatbelts in your vehicle including those that you don’t use often.
Tyre tread
The weather can get wet and wild in Spring. Tyre tread is critical as it creates traction between your vehicle and the road. The minimum tread depth on a tyre is 1.5mm. Show your teen the 20c coin check for checking their tyre tread. Get them to insert a 20c coin into the tread. If they can see the whole of the number on the coin, it’s time to think about a replacement tyre.
Oil
Not having enough oil can cause increased wear to your vehicle’s engine or cause it to seize up. Oil levels can be checked using a dipstick. If the oil doesn’t reach the indicator mark on a dipstick, you need more oil.
Car boot
Make sure your boot is empty and clear of any rubbish or clutter. The VTNZ Automotive Technician that carries out your WoF needs to be able to access the spare wheel in the boot and check that it’s in good working order. VTNZ is also committed to keeping you and your vehicles safe on your farm. In addition to 75 branches nationwide, we also have over 100 customer sites that serve the rural community carrying out vehicle safety inspections on farm vehicles and certain equipment. Give your local VTNZ a call today and check if an inspector works in your area.
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