Adults

Oil Level Check

How to Check Your Vehicle's Oil Level

You should check your car's oil at least once a month to make sure that  there’s enough oil and that it isn’t contaminated. Oil reduces the friction in your engine and keeps it running smoothly. When you check your oil, if it is dirty or smells of gasoline, it should be changed.

Some European vehicles don’t have an oil dipstick. If you can’t find one on your vehicle, check the owner’s manual for the proper way to check your oil.

To find out whether your vehicle needs oil, follow these steps:oilcheck

  • Pull out the dip stick and wipe it off on a clean, lint-free rag. Be sure the engine is cold (or has been off for at least ten minutes) before you check the oil. The location of the oil dipstick depends on whether your vehicle has an in-line engine (rear-wheel drive). If you have a transverse engine (front-wheel drive) your dipstick should be located near the front of the engine.
  • Insert the stick back into the pipe. If the dipstick gets stuck on the way in, turn it around. The pipe fits into is curved, and the metal stick bends naturally in the direction of the curve if you put it back in the way it came out.
  • Pull the dipstick out again and look at the film of oil on the end of the stick. Note how high the oil film reaches on the dipstick and the condition of the oil, and add or change the oil as needed.You don't add oil into the tiny tube that the dipstick sits in. Look for a screw-off cap on top of the largest part of the engine. It could be blank or it could be labeled "Oil Cap" or something similar, and it might even indicate which grade of oil you ought to be using in your car. Unscrew that cap and add oil as needed.
  • Put the dipstick back into the pipe. You’re done! Oil turns black pretty quickly, but that doesn’t affect the quality. Rub a little between your thumb and index finger, and if it leaves a dirty smudge, it probably needs to be changed.

Regular Service

  • Change oil and filteroilcheck
  • Change transmission fluid
  • Change axle differential oil
  • Check drive and axle shafts
  • Check steering, brake and clutch reservoirs
  • Check cooling system levels
  • Check brake system
  • Check front suspension, including alignment and condition of ball joints, steering rods, shock absorbers and springs
  • Check engine adjustments - valve clearances, ignition timing, distributor and spark plugs
  • Check fuel injection system and air filter element
  • Check headlight aim

Daily or Weekly Checks

tirepressure

  • Keep your vehicle clean, inside and out. Keep seat belts clean to prevent dirt and moisture from damaging the mechanism.
  • Check tire pressure. Properly inflated tires mean better mileage and safer driving.
  • Check tires for damage or wear.
  • Check that all lights are working.
  • Check that windshield wipers are properly attached to wiper blades.
  • If your wiper blades leave streaks on the window, replace them.
  • Check under the hood when the engine is cold. Check that there is enough oil, water in the radiator, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid and battery fluid, if appropriate. Check all hoses for cracks or leaks and check fan belts for wear or slackness.

Maintaining Your Car

It is illegal to drive a vehicle in dangerous condition. But maintaining your vehicle also makes sense from an economic point of view: it can mean better mileage and a better price when you sell your vehicle. Maintaining your vehicle also helps to protect the environment.

The following types of regular maintenance will help keep your vehicle fit and safe.

carcheck

Tire Safety Tips

Learning about tire safety can help prevent some accidents!
tirechange

  • Know the right pressure for your tires and keep this number in your glove compartment so you won't forget it.
  • Carrying heavy loads in your vehicle can put a strain on your tires--so know the load limits for your tires.
  • Tire makers list the "maximum permissible inflation pressures" on the tire sidewall. This number is the greatest amount of air that under normal driving conditions should be put in your tire.
  • Watch out for potholes--they can destroy--or greatly damage tires.
  • Watch out for newly paved roads with uneven shoulders.
  • Tires lose pressure over time. So check them regularly--at least monthly. Measure tire pressure when tire is "cold" which means it hasn't been driven.
  • Watch out for curbs. Scrapping your tires on a curb or hitting a curb can damage your tires. Be careful of curbs when you're backing up as well.
  • If you have to replace a tire, make sure it is the same size as the other three.
  • If you let a teen drive a family car, make sure the tires are in good condition. If you're giving your teen an older car, you might want to put a new set of good tires on the car.
  • Check the tire tread and replace tires before--or at least when tread is worn down to 1,6 mm.
  • Keep a tire gauge in the glove compartment.
  • Rotate tires according to your vehicle's owner manual recommendation. Some tire companies throw this in free when you buy a new set of tires.
  • Buy road hazard insurance on your tires--especially if a teen will be driving the car.

    elements

Children in Traffic

Children react differently in traffic than adults. Why?

  • Children have a more narrowed field of vision than adults, it is strongly restricted to the right and left. They notice laterally approaching vehicles very late.
  • Children are not able to look to the left or right while running and they can not stop abruptly at risk.
  • Children can not see over parked cars. They see less and are seen even less well.
  • Children do not distinguish between seeing and being seen. If they see a car, they childrunsare convinced that they are also seen.
  • Children can locate sounds badly. So they often do not recognize in time, the direction from which such horn or engine noises come.
  • Children can estimate speeds and braking distances reasonably in advanced primary school age.
  • Children do not realize that vehicles have a stop and braking distance.
  • Short legs and smaller steps: Children need much longer to cross a roadway.
  • Children react quickly without thinking if they have to simultaneously pay attention to several things.
  • Children react spontaneous and thoughtless. They often just start running when friends wait on the other side of the road.
  • Children notice only the things that currently interest them. Other incidents are not noticed or considered unimportant.

Children are no small adults

Traffic rules

Many children know the basic traffic rules. In more complicated situations (crossing a busy street, cycling on sidewalk with parked cars) children often do not react adequately.


Children as cyclists

It is recommended that children (and their parents) only go alone on the road by bike, if they have participated at a traffic education course in a traffic school of youth. There, the children learn the correct behavior with the bike on the road.
Children should always wear a helmet when cycling!


What does this mean to as an adult?

Be a role model! Children learn by copying!

  • You as a parent should teach your children the basic rules of behaving in traffic on time before school starts, so that they can participate independently in traffic.
  • Cross the street only at the safest places (traffic lights, pedestrian crossings), even if it is connected to a small detour. At crosswalks, we first must all - not just the children - have eye contact to approaching drivers before taking the first step on the street.potection
  • Principally, as a pedestrian always stop at the curb even with little traffic and orient to the left, then to the right and again to the left.
  • If you bring your child to school by car, you should only transport it in an approved, age appropriate child safety seat and let it get out right at the sidewalk side.
  • Parents should determine the the best way to kindergarten or to school, together with the children and practice it with them. Be guided by your child so you can see what it is already able to do and in what situations it is still insecure.
  • The school and kindergarten children should go early in the morning after a proper breakfast out of the house. Stress and haste are dangerous. Also to storm out of the house "emotionally loaded" is not good. Fear, sadness and anger influence children's behaviour strongly - even in traffic.
  • Children should always wear bright clothing in traffic. An anorak or a school bag with reflective materials ensure security.
  • With your child, make an agreement on at which time you expect it for lunch. Children who always must be on time at home, are only able to compensate delays by haste and hurry. A calm request about the reason for being late helps.



Watch your children on their ways:

  • "Storms" your child on the sidewalks and even on the road?
  • Do your children go alone or with friends?
  • Do your children make any detours (e.g. to a shop)
  • Let your children distract themselves by playing games, jumping, running around or conversations from the road?


If your children do not stick to the agreed rules, rebuked does not help a lot and often even has a contrary effect. A conversation with friends and other parents about possible hazards and the repeated practice of the ways is the more appropriate means.


All adults should be role models for children. Please help to prevent accidents on the road!

To Learn More About Pedestrian's Behavior Visit Our Video-Test Section

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