By: Kendall Keylor
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Many students will be traveling for Thanksgiving break this week.
Some are traveling farther than others.
In order to ensure safety among students, vehicle maintenance is important.
Some students are unaware of what should be checked before traveling long distance.
Allen Porter, Corporal at UAPD, explains that when looking at the condition of your car, make sure the oil is within the mileage and not too low.
“The things we find mostly are oil changes outdated or low,” Porter said. “The things that I find most, that’s taken care of the most, are the tires.”
One student who has been traveling back and forth from Fayetteville to Camden, Arkansas, for four years knows what to look for before she goes home for the holidays.
“I definitely check my car before I travel to go home, especially if my oil is getting low, because I don’t live close to Fayetteville,” said Eliza Rogers, a student at the University of Arkansas. “I don’t check my tires though.”
As Corporal Porter said, tires should be taken care of the most. Students can use a tire gauge to check the pressure of their tires. Another aspect to consider with your tires is to make an appointment to get them rotated.
Car maintenance can go as far as getting your engine checked. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Rogers had an issue last year with her engine while traveling back home for Thanksgiving break.
“My turbo exploded and I had to stay over night in a hotel,” Rogers said. “It was a scary and difficult situation because I wasn’t old enough to check into a hotel room, but they eventually gave me a room.”
There can be scary moments if a car isn’t fully updated on its maintenance, which is why it’s best to stick to a checklist you can make before traveling home.
Checklist:
- Check tire pressure
- Check if oil is within mileage
- Check headlights and taillights
- Check if any engine lights are on