Vehicle Checklist For Car Pool Season

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Vehicle Checklist For Car Pool Season (NAPSA)—If any of the nearly 56 million children in the country getting ready to go back to school via car pools are yours, you can help make sureall the vehicles involved are kid safe and road ready with five-pointchecklist: 1. Check lights and wipers for visi- bility. With shorter days and inclement weather ahead, make sure lights and wipers function properly so that you can see and be seen. Check the exterior and interior lights and replace any that are dimming,rapidly blinking or not functioning. Check wiper blades for signs of wear and replaceif necessary. 2. Get an annual brake inspection. ‘The braking system is your car’s most important safety feature. Before car pool season gets in full swing, make sure that your brakes are functioning properly. Schedule a brake inspection and look for warning signs that your vehicle may need brake services, such as an illumi- nated brake light or screeching, grinding or clicking noises when applying the brakes. 3. Checktires for underinflation or excessive wear. Checktire pressure and refill underinflated tires, including the spare, look for uneven wear and check tread depth. An easy wayto dothelatter is by placing a penny head-downin the tread groove.If the tread does not cover Lincoln's head,it’s time to replace your tires. 4. Make sure everyone is buckled up. The National Highway ‘Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website has important tips on seat belt fit and position. For the younger onesriding along, the site has information about how to install car seats as well as guidelines on selecting a car seat or booster based on yourchild’s age andsize. Carpooling can save time, money and the environment—and make getting to school more fun. 5. Consider a back-up detection device. Consider having a back-up detection device installed that provides rearview video or warning sounds when movingin reverse. While drivers should notrely solely on these devices, they can help to reduce the risk of backover incidents along with following other prevention tips from NHTSA. “Back-to-school time is hectic for most families, but scheduling a com- plete vehicle inspection is time well spent,” said Rich White, executive direc- tor, Car Care Council. “Knowing your vehicle was checked by a professional technician will give you peace of mind and makeall those trips to school and activities safer and less stressful.” ‘The Car Care Councilis the source of informationfor the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promot- ing the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance andrepair to consumers. Learn More For the latest car care news, visit the council’s online media room at http:// media.carcare.org. To order a free copy of the popular “Car Care Guide,’ visit the council’s consumer education website at www.carcare.org.