Did You Know Bad Roads & Over Speeding Are not the Major Causes of Car Accidents?

The rate at which Nigerians perish in road crashes is to say the least alarming.

Almost every day, the media is awash with stories of road accidents that cost the lives of Nigerians and inflict temporary or permanent injuries on some others.

There are several causes of accidents, the popularly known ones are Bad roads, Over Speeding, vehicle overloading, bad driving habits and fatigue. Many people fail to understand the dynamics of the road, there are other silent killers that most times car owners take for granted which cause accidents. The following are most times ignored by car owners which lead to road accidents.

Defective Windshield wipers

Windshield wipers would probably not be the first thing that comes to your mind when talking about causes of road accident. Windshield wipers are essential to the safety of any driver, and when they are not working properly, accidents are more likely to occur.

In a situation of a heavy downpour of rain and a car with a defective windshield wipers will cause one to lose visibility quite fast, and car accidents can result easily. 

Worn out shocks

The major function of a shock absorber is to prevent excessive spring movement and in so doing keep the car's tyres in contact with the road enabling you to keep control of it. Because of this it is a safety critical item, but most people ignore it. Because shocks are generally unseen items and they wear down so slowly that drivers grow accustomed to the ride and amend their style of driving to compensate for it. Not only are worn shocks life threatening, they can also cause costly repairs and maintenance on your vehicles.

Bad brakes

Brake pads and shoes are wear items and have a limited service life. The more you drive and use your brakes, the more the brake linings wear. Eventually, they wear down to the point where they have to be replaced. The hydraulic and mechanical components in your brake system also have a limited service life. Over time, rubber seals and hoses can deteriorate and leak. Metal components can rust and corrode. If your brake system develops a leak, it may cause the brakes to fail because of loss of hydraulic pressure when you apply the brakes.

Bad tyres & Tyre expiration
The condition of the tires should be inspected regularly. Look for unusual or uneven wear, bulges or wrinkles in the tire sidewalls, cracks in the tread that may indicate tread separation, or loss of air pressure. Over- or under-inflated tires can cause trouble for motorists, which could end up resulting in an accident if ignored. Also, using an expired tyre can be fatal - as the rubber ages, it perishes (dries out), and becomes weaker and brittle. At speed, it heats up and the pressure increases (as the air inside also heats up). This can lead to a blowout

Poor Vehicle Maintenance/Driver Negligence: It is the sole responsibility of the driver and car owner that the vehicle being driven is safe and roadworthy on the road. A quick walk around on cars by drivers before each and every drive is important not only as a good practice but sometimes save lives. A knowledge of those components which may affect road safety when broken down or deteriorated will be a benefit for drivers to enhance the confidence in driving.

FINALLY, taking your car to an unexperienced mechanic will not only cost you more money for eventually, it can cost loss of life and property. Your car needs proper routine maintenance to avoid a breakdown.

We at AUTOFACTORNG have certified Auto-Technicians who are readily available to help you with your car troubles. AUTOFACTORNG is committed to bridging the gap between our customers and quality assured auto- products and auto-repair services, with quality and customer satisfaction being our watchword. We Sell 100% Genuine, We Sell Confidence.

Join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Twitter for our Online Car Diagnostics Program from 10:00am – 01:00pm. This Service is absolutely FREE. Don’t let your Local mechanic fool you with jargons. Let’s put you through the dynamics of your car!