Every new vehicle comes with an owner’s manual. You can usually find it in the glove compartment. If you bought the car second-hand and it did not come with one, you can find a copy online.
If you’ve never read it and have had no problems driving the vehicle, you may wonder why you should dig it out. It’s because inside it you will find some vital safety information.
Here are some of the things you may discover
Your tire pressure was wrong
Do you know the optimal tire pressure for your vehicle? Probably not, but the manufacturers do, and they’ve spelled it out for you. If your tires are overinflated, it reduces traction. If they are underinflated, they may fail to hold the line when braking or cornering. It also makes overheating more likely, which could lead to a dangerous blowout. Besides, that correct pressure will also reduce wear and increase fuel consumption, both of which save you money.
You have been overloading your vehicle
Too much weight can be dangerous, as well as harmful to your suspension. Most cars have hidden attachment points so you can strap loads down to avoid them shifting when you go around corners or brake hard. If the load is significant, it could affect handling if it moves. You should also consider strapping things down to stop them from flying and hitting you in the head in a crash.
If a driver loses control and injures you in a crash, it might be down to something they could have avoided by following the instructions in the manual.