Driving habits that are bad for your car



It’s the small pleasures in life: with your windows rolled down and Bermuda’s beautiful beaches on display out of your window, driving is fun in Bermuda! However, a good experience can be limited by the car you’re driving and the condition it’s in.


bad-driving

This means that we need to make sure your car is performing at its best. One of the ways that we can do this is by ironing out some more common bad habits you might not realise can damage your car.

For instance, do you know how much extra weight your car is carrying? If you’ve got lots of heavy things cluttering up the trunk of your car, you could be putting unnecessary strain on your car. The more weight a car is carrying, the more fuel it burns and the greater the pressure on its components, including extra wear on the tread of your tyres. The Bermuda Road Safety Council advises that wheel balancing, alignment and tyre pressure should be checked regularly. For other suggestions for car care and maintenance, you can find out more here.

Bermuda has many difficult obstacles and road features, so always observe the speed limit and obey all of Bermuda’s traffic laws - especially if you’re not familiar with the road you’re on. Remember: the faster you’re going, the greater your stopping distance. Observing the speed limit allows you to slow down safely for speed bumps: if you’re going too fast over one you can seriously damage the undercarriage of your car and impact the shocks and suspension.

Making sure you keep your speed under control will allow you to have better management over the car and help you to come to smooth stops. Harsh braking, or riding the brakes, puts extra strain on the brake pads which in turn could cause them to fail. This puts your car at risk, but much more importantly, yourself, your passengers and the public in general.

Bermuda has a high density of motor traffic per square mile -  in 2015 there were over 22,600 private cars on the road. So, let’s do what we can to keep our cars running smoothly and avoid expensive repair costs. Ensuring that your car’s insurance is up to date and the best fit for you will also give you peace of mind – find out more here.


DISCLAIMER: The content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial or investment advice.