Stay Safe on the Road this Summer

June is National Safety Month and also the start of the family road-trip season.

And, since Ficosa’s mission is to create the advanced technology that provides vehicles with security features, our interest in safety doesn’t stop at the chassis. With that in mind, there’s no better time to provide our followers with some tried-and-true safety tips for traveling in a vehicle to your summer destinations:

Beat the Heat

1.?????Ensure your car’s air conditioning is in good working order. Before you let it roll down the highway, have your vehicle’s AC checked to ensure it won’t fizzle out on your trip. We are aware cars didn’t always have AC and people survived but, since that’s an option now, make sure yours works.

2.?????Know when your car is overheating. Because most belts and hoses are made of rubber, the heat can cause them to degrade and fail. Make sure you check your vehicle’s belts and hoses for bulges, cracks, blisters or cuts in the rubber before you hit the road.

Protect Yourself

1.?????Know the symptoms of heat stroke. High temperatures can cause people to suffer from both heat exhaustion and heat strokes. Heat exhaustion manifests in heavy sweating, thirst, weakness, nausea and dizziness while a heat stroke can result in confusion, seizures and a loss of consciousness. Either way, move the patient to a cooler area, provide water and seek the help of a medical professional if you or a loved one starts exhibiting any of these symptoms.

2.?????Wear your seatbelts or use car seats. You should buckle up every time you get in the car. And, if your children are below a certain age, weight or height – depending on the rules in your state – then they need to ALWAYS be in a car seat or buckled in the back seat. No exceptions. Seat belts have saved more lives on the road – nearly 350,000 – than all other automotive safety measures combined.

3.?????Plan your route. While we usually have some form of GPS in either our car or on our cellphone, it’s best to have some idea about the route you are taking. Let family or friends who aren’t going on the trip know this route. If anything happens to you, they can let emergency services know where you might be located.

Check your Vehicle

1.?????Tires. Make sure they’re properly inflated and don’t show any serious signs of wear or damage. Make sure your spare is both in the trunk and in good shape, as well.

2.?????Fluid levels. Don’t go on a trip if your brake, transmission or power steering fluid isn’t within the proper range. It’s a good idea to make sure your windshield washer fluid is also full. While it’s not essential to run your automobile, it can be critical in cleaning up road mess and bug debris so that you can see well.

3.?????Batteries. If your battery is nearing the end of its life cycle, make sure you have it replaced. Older batteries are far more susceptible to failure during extreme temperatures. For hybrid vehicles, also check to make sure there is gasoline in the tank for backup.

4.?????Lights. Replace all bulbs that have burned out and make sure all your signals are working.

Before You Go

Finally, make sure you have a road emergency kit filled with essential items such as:

1.?????Jumper cables

2. Cell phone and charger

3.?????Flashlight

4.?????First aid kit

5.?????Water (for you and your car)

6.?????Tire pressure gauge

7.?????Tire jack

8.?????Duct tape (to spot repair a hose leak)

9.?????Paper towels

10.??Non-perishable food

11.??Maps (learn how to read them – they are a necessity if you can’t access GPS)

If you’ve done all this, you’re ready to take off and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

And, from all of us at Ficosa, have a great summer road trip!