June 2018 www.womanthismonth.com 42 FEATURE | women on wheels GETTING THE KEYS As our readers across the causeway finally get the right to drive (congratulations ladies), we take a look at some basic dos and don’ts that apply to drivers everywhere. DO Find out which gas your car uses and learn how to fill your tank. You may never have to do it yourself in this part of the world but you will almost certainly have to if you drive overseas. • Know how much pressure should be in the tyres. Most garages can help but you can also find this in the handbook. Learn how to put air in the tyres and be aware that, in many countries, garages are self-service so you will need to do this yourself. Learn how here https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=w8dBrT5q4aY • If you have a spare tyre, ensure it is in a good roadworthy condition. Remember, it’s definitely not OK to just put the spare on and leave it there to do the job of a regular tyre. Most manufacturers give a maximum mileage recommendation for spares and there’s good reason for this. According to www.popularmechanics.com since the spare is used so infrequently, carmakers have switched to narrow, compact tyres to save space and weight. A temporary spare isn't as durable as a normal tyre, with fewer layers of steel and polyester. This greatly limits puncture resistance and cornering ability. Traction is reduced, increasing stopping distances and making handling potentially unpredictable in emergency manoeuvres. It also means ABS and traction control aren't as effective at keeping you out of danger. There can also be mechanical problems as the spare is marginally smaller than the other regular tyres, meaning it has to turn at a different speed to keep up — this can increase wear on the gears. • If a compact spare is ever damaged, either the tyre itself or the wheel, the entire spare should be replaced rather than repaired. And don't forget to check the pressure in your spare every time you check the pressure in your other tyres. It's important to make sure your safety net is, in fact, safe. • Know where to add water to both the radiator and the window washer – there are few things worse than driving in desertstyle muddy rain and being unable to get your windows clean. And, while we’re on the subject, make sure you know where the bonnet (hood) release catch is and how to actually get it open (yes, we’ve been caught out on this one). • Wear you seat belt — failing to do so is not only dangerous, it’s also breaking the law under article 45 of the new traffic law introduced in 2017. According to World Health Organisation statistics, in case of an accident, wearing a seatbelt reduces the
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