Car accidents are the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the NHTSA, around 42,915 died in vehicle crashes in 2021. This was a sharp increase from the reported 38,824 deaths in 2020.

The sad fact about these figures is that most motor vehicle crashes -and the resulting fatalities – can be avoided. As a car owner, you can take several preventative measures that reduce the likelihood of an accident or its severity if it occurs. Below are the top accident resources you can use to protect your car and yourself from crashes.

Follow a Routine Maintenance Schedule

According to a report by Fox13, many car accidents occur due to a malfunction – often resulting from poor malfunction. Therefore, regular maintenance is one of the top accident resources, which can help to reduce the likelihood of being involved in a crash. In addition, proper maintenance can help you detect and rectify various issues with your car, thus helping to keep you safe on the road.

When looking to accident-proof your car, there are several car maintenance services you should consider. One of the top services is tire maintenance – checking the tire pressure, rotating tires, and replacing worn-out tires. Other critical maintenance services include brake inspection, changing the oil and brake fluid, and cleaning the headlights. You should also schedule regular inspections for other parts of your car, such as the suspension, transmission, engine, electrical system, etc.

You must service your car regularly to reap the benefits of car maintenance services. Car maintenance schedules vary between different makes and models, with most manufacturers advising you to service your car after about every 5,000 to 12,000 miles. However, you should read your car owner’s manual for the proper maintenance schedule.

Lastly, you can accident-proof your car by conducting routine maintenance at home. Some of the maintenance you can do at home include checking the engine oil, refilling the coolant, checking the tire pressure, replacing faulty light bulbs, checking battery health, etc.

Of course, you’ll need several tools like screwdrivers, sockets, battery testers, a pressure gauge checker, an air compressor, a tire repair kit, a jack, an oil drain pan, etc. You can buy the tools for your home garage kit or hire them from tool rental services when doing DIY maintenance.

Upgrade Your Car with Safety Features

Safety upgrades are other top accident resources you can use to protect your car from the likelihood of a crash. Most modern cars come with several features that make them safer to drive. However, you can add more features, giving your car maximum protection when you are on the road.

Several car upgrades can help make your car more durable and safer. For example, you should consider a reverse camera, blind-spot alert system, adaptive headlights, night vision, emergency braking, and lane departure warning. These features can help warn you of various accident hazards when operating your vehicle, reducing the likelihood of getting into a crash.

You can also make your car safer by upgrading your tires. For example, installing run-flat tires can help ensure that you maintain control of your vehicle even when the tire is flat, preventing an accident. Other upgrades include installing an after-market braking system, shock absorbers, anti-roll bars, performance suspension, etc.

Lastly, you can add safety features that help protect the car occupants in case of an accident. For example, safety belts and airbags are vital features that can reduce the severity of injuries during an accident. Of course, most modern cars already have these safety features, but you should check yours for peace of mind.

You can also make your car safer by installing a harder window. For example, laminate glass is more rigid and won’t shatter easily in case of a crash – which can protect you from broken glass injuries. It also remains intact, thus reducing the likelihood of ejection – which can cause severe injuries or even death.

Upgrade Your Car Body Features

Car body issues are one of the most common types of damage during an accident. They can be extensive and expensive to fix, even in minor crashes. For example, a simple collision can lead to damaged body panels, dented doors, and broken headlights, which can be expensive to fix.

Unfortunately, your car’s body panel can still be damaged even if you’re not in an accident. For example, your vehicle’s doors can get dinged against the walls and other cars when the occupants are exiting. It’s also possible for your vehicle to be scratched by other drivers in a parking lot. Therefore, vehicle body upgrades are other top accident resources to protect your vehicle during crashes

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A bumper guard is one of the top upgrades for your car’s body

You can install bumper guards in your vehicles’ front and rear sections. This can help to absorb most impact during fender-benders or if another driver backs into your vehicle in the parking lot. As a result, you can avoid expensive damages to your vehicle, saving money on repairs.

It would help if you also considered auto paint protection for your vehicle, which can help protect you from paint job damage. Most auto repair shops offer protective paint solutions, which can reduce the severity of paint damage during crashes. It can also protect your car from scratches caused by rocks, road debris, garage parking lot walls, or other cars.

Fix Your Faulty Garage Door

Car crashes aren’t limited to the road or the parking lot; they can also happen at home. One of the most common home-related crashes is where a faulty garage door closes on your car. This can cause extensive damage to your car. Therefore, fixing your faulty garage door is one of the best accident resources that can help you protect your vehicle.

Faulty garage doors are not just a safety hazard to your vehicle – they can also cause other serious injuries or death. Therefore, you should immediately call a garage repair contractor if your garage door is not closing or opening correctly. Alternatively, you can look into new garage doors for a replacement option, making your garage safer for your vehicle and family.

Apart from the garage door closing on your car, you can also accidentally back into your door when you are reversing out of the garage. This can also cause extensive damage to your car, which can be expensive. To avoid such an incident, consider looking at various screen options garage door screen manufacturers offer.

Installing a garage door screen can reduce impact during a collision, saving you money on repairs. As a bonus, the screen can improve the aesthetic appeal of your home, prevent pests and animals from entering your garage, and improve your house’s energy efficiency.

Prepare Yourself For Emergencies

Even after taking all the preventative measures, you can still be involved in a road accident. For example, another driver can hit your car, or you could crash due to other unavoidable hazards, such as poor weather conditions. Therefore, the best you can do is to prepare yourself for these road emergencies.

An emergency kit is one of the top accident resources that can help you prepare for an emergency on the road. Your kit should include first aid supplies, which can help you treat minor injuries or prevent the more serious ones from worsening as you wait for help. Orange warning cones are another vital component that can help you in an accident by warning incoming traffic.

You can also include several other essentials in your kit that can bail you out of emergencies besides an accident. For example, having a jumpstart kit is a good idea, as it can help you fix a dead battery issue that could otherwise leave you stranded. In addition, tools such as a jack, wrench, flashlight, and a tire repair kit can help you change and repair your tire after getting a flat.

Besides the emergency kit, consider subscribing to a road assistance plan. These plans often come with features like a crash response, which can help alert emergency services of your accident. They can also help you if you crash during bad weather, for example, snow or a storm. Besides being excellent accident resources, roadside assistance plans can also assist you with towing your vehicle or other non-accident issues such as a dead battery, flat tire, lost keys, etc.

Visit a Repair Shop Immediately

Once you get into a car accident, your vehicle is likely to sustain damage. Therefore, you should take it to your local auto repair shop, even if the crash was minor. Doing this will fix the damage, preventing it from worsening. It can also uncover other hidden safety issues – making your mechanic one of the top accident resources to protect your car against future collisions.

Body damage is a top issue your car will likely sustain in an accident. This can include damage to the paint job or the car’s body panel. Depending on the damage, repainting your car can cost between $1,000 to $3,500. On the other hand, fixing the body panel damage can cost between $50 and $1,500 for minor damages and several thousand dollars for more extension issues.

Besides the body, your car tires and wheels are also likely to be damaged during a car crash. Therefore, you’ll likely need tire repairs for minor crashes or a tire replacement for more severe collisions. You can expect to pay around $50 per tire for repairs and between $50 to $1,000 for replacements.

Other common issues you can experience during an accident include wheel alignment, suspension, and transmission damage. For wheel alignment service, you can expect to pay between $50 and $200. On the other hand, suspension repair will cost you between $1,000 and $5,000, while you can expect to pay between $4,000 and $7,000 for a transmission replacement.

Lastly, your vehicle can suffer hidden damages after a crash. For example, the car’s radiator and air conditioner might sustain impact, which damages various components. For these damages, you can expect to pay between $150 to $500 for the air conditioner repair and around $900 to fix the radiator. If your windshield has some cracks or chips, you may need an auto glass repair service,

Update Your Car Insurance

Your vehicle’s insurance is one of the best accident resources to help you prepare for a car crash. Without insurance, you would have to pay for any repairs out of your pocket, leaving you in a financial hole.

Besides helping you cover repairs, car insurance has many other benefits. For example, it can cover your medical expenses in case of an injury. Additionally, having your car insured can protect you from liability for injured third parties if you’re at fault in an accident.

Therefore, whenever you take your vehicle on the road, you should always ensure that your insurance is up-to-date. This can help protect you from any eventualities that occur after you get into a crash.

Additionally, it would help if you informed your car insurance provider of your accident immediately after it occurs. This will help to kickstart the claims process for any damages and injuries suffered – and those of other involved third parties. It’s also a good idea to inform your insurance company even if there are no vehicle damages or bodily injuries. This will help protect you from any hidden issues that might emerge later due to the accident.

Hire an Accident Attorney

After a car crash, you may find yourself involved in various legal processes. Unfortunately, navigating these processes alone can be a nightmare, making it necessary to have a legal representative fighting in your corner. Therefore, car accident attorneys are other vital accident resources you can turn to if you’re involved in a car crash.

A car accident lawyer can help you out in several situations after being involved in a crash. The first is helping you file for compensation against your insurance company to cover damages sustained to your vehicle. They can also help you with a personal injury claim against your insurance provider or the other driver involved in the accident (if they were at fault).

You may also need to hire a car accident attorney if you were at fault in a car crash. In such a situation, you may face a civil suit from other involved parties. You might also find yourself as the subject of a criminal investigation after an accident. Having a lawyer in these situations can protect your interest and help to diminish or eliminate any liability you might incur.

It’s also a good idea to retain the services of an attorney, even if you were involved in a minor crash. This is especially important if another vehicle or third parties (pedestrians, passengers, etc.) were involved in the crash, as they can file a claim against you even if you weren’t at fault. Thus, speaking to an attorney helps protect your interests should a legal dispute arise from the accident.

Car accidents can occur at any time, and they have the potential to significantly disrupt your life through expensive vehicle damages or severe bodily injuries. However, with the above accident tips, you can accident-proof your car, reducing the likelihood of an accident. And should you find yourself involved in a crash, you’ll have several accident resources to help you navigate the aftermath.

It’s a requirement by many states for you to have a driver’s license before you operate a personal or commercial vehicle. However, before you obtain the license, you should go through rigorous step-by-step training, which involves taking the driving test.

Why is the Car Checklist for Driving Test Important?

Did you know you wouldn’t be granted a license if you failed the driving test? Driving test exams are not challenging and they’re meant to demoralize anyone. However, the secret is about setting up proper driving test preparation strategies. In that case, you need the car checklist for the driving test that will help you avoid missing important details that could easily cost you.

Car checklist for the driving test will help you become a licensed driver, and know about proper road usage strategies to avoid fatal accidents. In the United States and globally, motor vehicle accidents have alarming statistics. The U.S roadways recorded a total of 35,766 automobile accidents in 2020 out of which 38,824 deaths were reported.

Traffic officers state that many road accidents are due to reckless driving while on the phone. Another significant contributor is the practice of driving under the influence of alcohol. While other important factors still call for careful road usage, the importance of learning about road signs and limits can’t be overemphasized. To be the best driver, you need a comprehensive car checklist for driving test plus a reliable auto insurance company.

The car checklist also gives you confidence and peace of mind as you prep for the test. You are sure in the back of your mind that the car has everything that is required for the test. This gives you the confidence you need that can boost your performance in the test.

Tips for Driving Test Preparation

The car checklist for driving test recommends the integration of practice because it anchors perfection. It matters like in the case of 24 hour tow truck services. Therefore, you should always consider training with your supervisor for adequate preparation for the driving test. Generally, driving test preparation tends to vary from one person to another, depending on the skill set and other driving aspects. That is why it’s important to ensure that you have a good car checklist for driving test preparation. However, you might need the input of Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) because they are trained to offer custom-tailored services to help you achieve what you need effortlessly.

Ultimate Car Checklist for Driving Test preparation

Follow this checklist to ensure that your car meets all the necessary requirements and increase the chances of passing the test.

Exterior Inspection

The exterior inspection is an essential part of a car checklist for driving test because it will help you know whether your car is perfect for the task. The critical aspects of exterior inspection before the driving test include:

Checking the tires, inspecting the lights, examining the mirrors, and reviewing the windshield and wipers

Self car wash is similarly important as auto body service, seal coat, and car coating. Either way, as you do exterior car inspection, check whether the vehicle has a valid registration and has passed the safety inspection. If you’re using a vehicle from a driving school, in most cases, these issues are handled by the respective authorities before the exact day of doing the exam. However, it’s important to consider asking to fetch more marks.

After confirming the vehicle’s eligibility for driving, you need a serious inspection of the vehicle’s exterior elements. Some features to check are the tires, lights, mirrors, wipers, review wipes, and windshield. The tires of the vehicle should comply with Road Traffic Acts requirements just on a simple inspection. The tire treads must have a minimum depth of 1.6mm for motor cars. Additionally, the tires should have no weird bulges, questionable cuts, or even an aspect of uneven wear particularly for asphalt driveways.

The general appearance of the tire is important, as is its reliability. Therefore, ensure it has the correct pressure. According to PPMC transport, cars should have a pressure of 32 – 35 psi., and 40 – 42 psi. for Sport Utility Vehicles and 50 – 60 psi for medium-sized trucks. Larger trucks can have a pressure of up to 105 psi. You need to note that space-saver wheels aren’t allowed because they have a speed rating that does not meet the overall test requirement.

Your visibility during the driving test matters more than everything else. Your vehicle’s windows and windscreen should have a more than 65% light transmission. Don’t forget to add the windscreen to your car checklist for driving test. Always ensure the vehicle windscreen is clean without visual obstruction, including excessive cracks and unnecessary stickers. You might start the test when the windscreen is clear and explicit as required. However, along the way, anything can happen and then you have a dirty screen. Therefore, that again calls for you to ensure that the washer fluid is available and the windscreen wipers are fully operational.

As you wind up the exterior inspection car checklist for driving test, concluding with the vehicle’s lighting. Check the headlights, which include the full and deemed light. You must also evaluate whether the indicators and the hazards work on either side. It’s advisable to avoid vehicles that have modifications that pose safety and health risks when doing the driving test. That includes removing the loads or even securing auto towing properly. The loose objects on the vehicle exterior should be reinforced before the test.

Interior Inspection

As you get inside your driving test vehicle the car checklist driving test preparation should focus on:

Testing the seat belts, checking the brakes and accelerator, verifying the steering wheel and horn, and testing the air conditioning and heating.

Safety belts are important accessories that should be fitted on all passenger seats. Of Course, the driver’s seat should never be secluded. The car could be well fitted with seat belts, but you need to check whether they are working and conform to the manufacturer’s specifics. As you evaluate the seat belt, check whether the doors are in good working order by ascertaining whether opening from outside and inside is possible.

When doing the driving test, your interior comfort should never be put to the test. Therefore, the unstable and broken seat should be repaired or removed. Ultimately, audio equipment is unacceptable during a car driving test, but you deserve a car charging system. You’re not allowed to carry passengers, including pets, during the pets. Furthermore, the test vehicle is perceived as an enclosed workspace and should be free from smoke according to the Public Health Act 2004.

Don’t smoke before the test because the residual odor might irritate the supervisor, who will lose focus and interest in helping you get the scores you deserve. Always ensure the vehicle interior is free from dust and dampness with reasonably clean seats. Reliable air conditioning and heating systems will help you get ultimate comfort. You will easily adapt to the body adjustments, such as sweating as you fight with anxiety and nervousness about the test.

It’s general knowledge that you should never operate a vehicle with faulty brakes. Furthermore, acceleration, sterling shell, and horn contribute to your state and that of the passages. You might not be able to handle the issues of the brakes and accelerator on the day of the driving test. However, consider having the car being attended by reputable auto repair shops for accurate diagnosis and car brake service.

Driving Skills

Your driving test performance will depend on whether you can display exceptional ability in operating the vehicle correctly, especially in making specific motions. Therefore add the following maneuvers to your car checklist for the driving test add practice them:

Obey Traffic Signals: Moving into the correct lane and approaching a traffic signal at a pace that permits you to stop safely. Stop before the crosswalk or stop line if required. When the signal turns green, wait until oncoming traffic has cleared the junction before proceeding. Give the right indication for turning and stopping, and watch for ‘restricted turn’ and ‘single way’ signs.

Do Reasonable Overtaking: Check for approaching traffic before overtaking to ensure that it is safe. You should not pass on the road’s edge while overtaking other vehicles.

Shift Gears: If you’re driving a test with a manual automobile, you should change and shift gears correctly and smoothly.

Parking Speed and Accuracy: Park your car straight inside the designated space. Ensure your vehicle is centered within the space and not extending into the traffic lane. The examiner will evaluate your ability to handle the car in close quarters, judge distances, and maintain vehicle control as you enter the parking space.

Stop/Start on a Grade: If your driving test does not feature a slope, you will be asked to practice this technique by parking in a simple parking space or by moving the side of the road before the change of direction.

Stop Quickly: While driving at 20 miles per hour, make a quick, safe stop when the examiner instructs you.

The Approach of Crossing: Make sure to get into the correct lane and check for traffic in all directions.

Maintain a Safe Distance: Always keep a safe driving distance when another vehicle is in front of you. To avoid tailgating, use the 4 Second Rule.

Drive in the Appropriate Lane: Unless on one-way streets, drive in the right-hand lane. Change lanes only when it is safer to do so. Obey all traffic regulations and signage, and pull over for emergency vehicles.

Turn Around (Three Point Turn): Turn your automobile around in 30′ to 40′.

Maintain Good Posture: Keep both hands on the wheel, and don’t rest your elbow on the vehicle’s window.

Obey Stop Signs: If you want to turn, proceed in the correct lane, come to a complete stop before the pedestrian crossing or stop line, and remain halted until you may safely move without interfering with cross traffic or pedestrians. Recall that most junctions, whether marked or unmarked, have legal crosswalks. An unmarked crossing is the roadway space at a junction that joins the street’s opposing sides.

How to Pass The Driving Test on Your First Attempt

Passing your driving test is an important and exciting milestone that can open up a world of independence and new opportunities. However, a car checklist for driving test preparation is key to help ensure you pass your test the first time. You also need to follow other personal attributes which include arriving at the test center on time, ensuring you have all the required documents and equipment, and getting a good night’s sleep to minimize stress and anxiety.

Another important tip is to have a driving lesson on the test day, which can help you review maneuvers and clarify last-minute questions. Consider taking the test in a car you are familiar with and feel comfortable in, such as an instructor’s car. Additionally, you can ask your instructor to accompany you in the car to provide reassurance and constructive feedback. Remember to remain calm and never assume you have failed, even if you make a mistake. Minor mistakes are allowed; you can make up to 15 during the test.

Choosing where to take your test can also affect your chances of passing. Check the pass rates of your local test centers and choose one with a higher rate, but make sure it suits your driving ability. Know driving test routes beforehand to boost comfort and confidence. Finally, always follow the rules of the road, be aware of other drivers, and avoid getting distracted by anything that can reduce your focus on driving.