Avoiding mechanical defects in your vehicle
SCHOOL IS out, but Malta and the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Transport and Mining are keeping road users in the know with tips and advice on how to stay safe this summer. Look out for this Malta ROAD SCHOLARS road safety series for more information.
As summer 2017 winds down, you might be planning one last road trip with friends or family. So far, you’ve followed the rules of the road and modelled the behaviour of a courtesy driver, but even the most conscientious drivers sometimes fail to consider the condition of their vehicles. Is your ride really road-worthy? After a fun-filled summer of road trips and partygoing, you must ensure that your vehicle is in tip-top shape in order to prevent malfunctions that can lead to crashes.
“Too often, road crashes occur as a result of vehicle malfunctions which can easily be prevented,” said Kenute Hare, director of the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Transport and Mining. “We encourage all motorists to take proper care of their vehicles by getting regular maintenance checks done, particularly before going on long journeys where their vehicles will be running for a longer duration.”
There have been an astonishing 1,500 road crashes resulting from mechanical defects over the past three decades, all of which could have been prevented by simple maintenance checks. The more basic checks can be done by you, while in-depth maintenance checks are done when your auto-mechanic is servicing your vehicle.