There are many safe driving tips out there, and they are excellent to follow, but many drivers don’t realize that safe driving actually starts with the car itself! If a vehicle is not safe, then the driver and those around them are not safe either. In fact, at least five percent of all accidents could have been avoided if the driver had taken better care of their vehicle. This is an estimated two billion dollars’ worth of property damage, medical payment and lost wages that could have been avoided if the vehicle had been properly maintained.

The biggest offenders, and most dangerous, maintenance items to put off during auto repair are the tires and the brakes. In one study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), they determined that underinflated tires were the cause of accidents by a three to one margin, when the accident was linked to tire issues. Tire pressure was also a cause of accidents; when the tire pressure either too high, too low or uneven, it can cause a blowout and the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Brakes are obviously a huge safety item in a vehicle and brake issues should NEVER be ignored. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) shared some great safety tips when it comes to brake service and they include the following:

• Invest in top-quality brake pads.
• If any rotors are marginal for continued service after refinishing (too thin or very close to the minimum thickness specification), have them replaced. An ASE-certified technician can compare the specification dimension and your rotors’ actual thickness for you on request. If you own an older vehicle equipped with original equipment (OE) rotors, be prepared to replace them at this time.
• Have the brake calipers inspected to ensure that any moving parts, such as slides and bleeder screws, haven’t corroded and frozen up.
• Don’t always jump at the lowest quoted price for your brake job. A low price quote can mean that you’re not getting the complete brake system serviced.

They also cautioned against using lower quality parts; sure, they might cost less, but sacrificing quality for price doesn’t exactly make sense when your safety is on the line. Investing a bit more up-front will help ensure not only the safety of the vehicle but also the safety of the driver and the other drivers on the road around them. So while it is a great idea to follow safe driving tips, don’t neglect vehicle maintenance or else your safe driving tips will be useless.