School’s Back. Is Your Vehicle Ready?
The backpacks are packed, the schedules are set, and the early mornings are back.
Whether you're driving to school, heading to campus, commuting to work after drop-off, or getting your teenager ready to drive on their own, one thing is easy to overlook: your vehicle needs to be ready, too. A little preparation now can help you avoid an unexpected roadside problem when you're already running late.
Here’s a simple back-to-school vehicle safety checklist for students and parents.
Whether you're driving to school, heading to campus, commuting to work after drop-off, or getting your teenager ready to drive on their own, one thing is easy to overlook: your vehicle needs to be ready, too. A little preparation now can help you avoid an unexpected roadside problem when you're already running late.
Here’s a simple back-to-school vehicle safety checklist for students and parents.
1. Check Your Tires
Your tires are your vehicle’s only contact with the road, so they deserve a quick check before the school-year commute begins.
Look for:
Look for:
- Low tire pressure
- Worn or uneven tread
- Cracks or visible damage
- Bulges or punctures
- A properly inflated spare tire, if equipped
Don't forget to check your tire pressure regularly and follow the recommended pressure for your vehicle. If you’re going back to university/college, make sure you bring a set of winter tires for the colder months if you experience snow where you go to school/live
A few minutes checking your tires could save you from an inconvenient flat later.
A few minutes checking your tires could save you from an inconvenient flat later.
2. Check Your Battery
Imagine getting ready for school, getting into your car, and hearing nothing but a click when you try to start it.
A weak battery can turn an ordinary morning into a stressful one.
Pay attention to warning signs such as:
A weak battery can turn an ordinary morning into a stressful one.
Pay attention to warning signs such as:
- Slow engine cranking
- Clicking when you try to start the vehicle
- Dimming headlights
- Electrical issues
- A battery that's several years old
If you've noticed any of these signs, consider having your battery tested before your school-year routine gets busy.
3. Check Your Lights
With fall approaching, you'll likely be driving in darker conditions more often.
Before heading back to school, check that your:
Before heading back to school, check that your:
- Headlights
- Brake lights
- Turn signals
- Hazard lights
- Reverse lights
are all working properly.
Good visibility isn't just about seeing the road, it's also about making sure other drivers can see you.
Good visibility isn't just about seeing the road, it's also about making sure other drivers can see you.
4. Pay Attention to Your Brakes
Your brakes shouldn't be something you think about only when there's a problem.
If you notice unusual squealing, grinding, vibrations, pulling, or changes in how your brake pedal feels, don't ignore it.
Have your vehicle inspected by a qualified technician if something doesn't feel right.
If you notice unusual squealing, grinding, vibrations, pulling, or changes in how your brake pedal feels, don't ignore it.
Have your vehicle inspected by a qualified technician if something doesn't feel right.
5. Check Your Essential Fluids
Before the school-year rush begins, take a quick look at your vehicle's essential fluids.
Depending on your vehicle, these can include:
Depending on your vehicle, these can include:
- Engine oil
- Coolant
- Brake fluid
- Windshield washer fluid
- Transmission fluid
If you're unsure how to check a particular fluid or notice a leak, consult your owner's manual or a qualified technician.
6. Keep an Emergency Kit in Your Vehicle
You don't need to fill your trunk with equipment, but having a few essentials on hand can make an unexpected situation easier to handle.
Consider keeping:
Consider keeping:
- A flashlight
- Phone charger or power bank
- First-aid kit
- Jumper cables
- Water
- Basic tools
- Gloves
- Emergency blanket
- Reflective vest or warning device
For students who drive themselves to school or campus, it's especially helpful to know what's in the vehicle and where everything is kept.
7. Have Roadside Assistance When You Need It
Some roadside situations are bigger than what you can safely handle on your own.
A flat tire, dead battery, lockout, or vehicle breakdown can happen unexpectedly and having a roadside assistance membership means you have somewhere to turn when you need help.
Depending on your coverage, roadside assistance can help with services such as:
A flat tire, dead battery, lockout, or vehicle breakdown can happen unexpectedly and having a roadside assistance membership means you have somewhere to turn when you need help.
Depending on your coverage, roadside assistance can help with services such as:
- Towing
- Battery boosts
- Flat tire assistance
- Lockouts
- Fuel delivery
- Winch or recovery services
For students and parents alike, having roadside assistance available can provide extra peace of mind when you're stuck on the side of the road or dealing with a situation you can't handle yourself.
Before the school year gets busy, make sure you know who to call when the unexpected happens.
Before the school year gets busy, make sure you know who to call when the unexpected happens.
A Quick Checklist Before the First Day
Before the school-year routine gets busy, ask yourself:
☐ Are my tires properly inflated?
☐ Is my battery showing any warning signs?
☐ Do all my lights work?
☐ Do my brakes feel normal?
☐ Are my essential fluids at appropriate levels?
☐ Do I have an emergency kit?
☐ Do I have roadside assistance for bigger situations?
☐ Do I know who to call if I need help?
If you can check all the boxes, you're one step closer to being ready for the road.
☐ Are my tires properly inflated?
☐ Is my battery showing any warning signs?
☐ Do all my lights work?
☐ Do my brakes feel normal?
☐ Are my essential fluids at appropriate levels?
☐ Do I have an emergency kit?
☐ Do I have roadside assistance for bigger situations?
☐ Do I know who to call if I need help?
If you can check all the boxes, you're one step closer to being ready for the road.
What If You Do End Up Stranded?
Sometimes, vehicle trouble happens at the worst possible time, on the way to class, during the morning school run, or when you're already running late.
That's where having roadside assistance can help.
Access Roadside Assistance provides 24/7 roadside assistance for unexpected situations such as towing, battery boosts, flat tires, lockouts, fuel delivery, and more.
Because trouble doesn't always happen at a convenient time.
That's where having roadside assistance can help.
Access Roadside Assistance provides 24/7 roadside assistance for unexpected situations such as towing, battery boosts, flat tires, lockouts, fuel delivery, and more.
Because trouble doesn't always happen at a convenient time.
Back to School. Ready for the Road.
A new school year means new routines, new schedules, and plenty of time on the road.
Take a few minutes now to prepare your vehicle, save important roadside information, and consider having a roadside assistance membership in place before you need it.
Stay prepared. Stay safe. And have a great school year from Access Roadside Assistance.
Take a few minutes now to prepare your vehicle, save important roadside information, and consider having a roadside assistance membership in place before you need it.
Stay prepared. Stay safe. And have a great school year from Access Roadside Assistance.
