Your newfound independence after getting your driver’s licence and your first car comes with responsibility, not only to yourself but also to all the other drivers on the road with you.

Unroadworthy cars

Human errors can cause an accident on the road, as well as untrustworthy cars and unroadworthy cars, it’s your responsibility as a driver to ensure your car is indeed roadworthy and well maintained.

Blown tyre

If we look at tyres, we know that if a tyre blows it can cause an accident as you will immediately lose control of your vehicle. A second issue could be that your tyres are worn and this means the car does not have enough traction on the road when driving and you might not be able to apply brake in time to save a life or avoid an accident. Always be sure to inspect your tyres and the tread as this can save a life or avoid an accident.

Be vigilant

To be a responsible driver you will always need to be vigilant and respect the road rules and laws. Driving too fast on the highway or in a residential area where children are playing and cycling is irresponsible and can cause an accident.

Respect the road

As a responsible driver you should respect road users, this includes other motorists but also people walking and cycling and using the roads too.

Common issues

There are some common issues car can have if you need to ensure that your car is safe to drive, not only for you and the people driving in the car with your but also for other people on the road. Some warning signs that you might need to take your car in for assessment and/or maintenance work would be:

• A blown gasket – you will see black smoke coming from the exhaust of the car.
• Creaking noises – this is possibly your wheel bearing please ensure your check this regularly. If you drive like this too long the wheel can literally snap off.
• If you are experiencing jerking and a loss of power, it could be your airflow (especially if it’s a new car)

There are many things that can go wrong with a car and you feel something is wrong while driving always try to get to help before it could leave you stranded or in a risky situation.

It’s responsible to have car insurance, use Compare Insurance to compare a range of affordable and reputable insurance policies on one website. It is responsible not to drink and drive, do not become distracted while driving and respect the road rules.