Modern vehicles are equipped with a variety of safety features designed to make driving less dangerous. Three of these safety features are oftentimes overlooked by drivers. In some cases, the driver doesn’t really understand what they mean and, in other cases, the driver just ignores them. These aren’t safety features like anti-lock brakes or rear window brake lights; these are safety features that have been around for a while and that can keep you from being stranded on the side of the road.
The Check Engine Light
This light is sometimes sarcastically called the “sucker light” by people who have had it come on, check under the hood and found nothing wrong. Your check engine light is actually something your mechanic needs to know about more than you do. If it comes on, bring your car down to the mechanic’s shop and have them take a look at it. Not all problems that vehicles have are going to be obvious to the average driver and, simply because you don’t see a problem with your engine doesn’t mean that one isn’t there.
The Oil Gauge
If your car has an oil pressure gauge on it, this is something you should learn to read. You have to speak with your mechanic to see what normal pressure is for your vehicle but, generally speaking, it should be around 50 PSI when you’re driving at highway speeds. If your oil pressure is going up or down beyond normal limits, knowing about it can give you the impetus to go to the mechanic that may help you to avoid a major mechanical failure in the near future.
The Tachometer
Your tachometer measures the speed at which your engine is operating. This isn’t the speed that you’re going on the road; it’s the RPMs of your engine. If you don’t have one of these installed in your vehicle, it’s a gauge you should consider having your mechanic at on as an aftermarket accessory. Pushing your engine too hard is one of the most surefire ways to end up damaging it beyond repair. With the tachometer, you can tell how hard your engine is working and, if necessary, you can back off your engine when you’re pushing it way too hard.
Safety is also something that comes from the attentiveness and competence of the drivers around you. A car accident attorney in Dallas can help you if you need a car wreck lawyer to put together a lawsuit against a negligent driver.
