otherwise call a breakdown service. 

Tyre pressures.  Check weekly. Do this before your journey, when tyres are cold. Warm or hot tyres may give a misleading reading. 

Your brakes and steering will be adversely affected by under-inflated or over-inflated tyres. Excessive or uneven tyre wear may be caused by faults in the braking or suspension systems, or wheels which are out of alignment. Have these faults corrected as soon as possible. 

Fluid levels.  Check the fluid levels in your vehicle at least weekly. 

Low brake fluid may result in brake failure and a crash. Make sure you recognise the low fluid warning lights if your vehicle has them fitted. 

Before winter.  Ensure that the battery is well maintained and that there are appropriate anti-freeze agents in your radiator and windscreen bottle. 

Other problems.  If your vehicle 

● pulls to one side when braking, it is most likely to be a brake fault or incorrectly inflated tyres. Consult a garage or mechanic immediately 

● continues to bounce after pushing down on the front or rear, its shock absorbers are worn. Worn shock absorbers can seriously affect the operation of a vehicle and should be replaced 

● smells of anything unusual such as burning rubber, petrol or an electrical fault; investigate immediately. Do not risk a fire. 

Overheated engines or fire.  Most engines are water-cooled. If your engine overheats you should wait until it has cooled naturally. Only then remove the coolant filler cap and add water or other coolant. 

If your vehicle catches fire, get the occupants out of the vehicle 

