Being in Buffalo, we are used to seeing all the tips and tricks to keep your car and yourself safe and running in the winter. But the summer? That’s a perfect time to ignore the car and hit the festivals, events, and beaches, right?

There is nothing that can ruin a summer outing than a break down. So a few tips to help prevent that from happening.

Have your vehicle’s alignment checked. A spring of pothole season can work wonders on knocking your car out of alignment, and it ought to be pretty easy to fix *before* you have a breakdown.

Check your car’s belts and hoses for winter wear and replace anything that is worn, cracking or has blisters.

Check fluids and top off or replace anything that needs to be. Your car shouldn’t be dehydrated in summer either. Check your battery for corrosion, and under the hood and under the car for leaks. Summer needs for a car are different than winter needs.

Check your tires air pressure and for wear and tread depth. Don’t forget to check your spare! And pay attention to your tires during any hotter than usual weather. Blow outs are more likely to occur in summer because of the heat. Have any bulges checked out right away.

Check that your wipers are working well, and change from snow wipers to rain wipers, if you switch out.

You can safey remove all the winter stuck in the snow/at the office gear, but keep your jumper cables, car maintence stuff, first aide kit. You will also want to keep water in the car, both for you and the radiator. Sunscreen, a baseball cap, and a diaper changing sheet (in case you need to get home in a wet bathing suit!) are all good additions for a summer car kit.

And while you can take a break from worrying about driving in ice and snow for a few months, there are hazards in the warm weather than can just as easily cause accidents. There are more people on the road, especially during what are normally ‘school hours’ when teenagers are more likely to be driving. There are bicyclists and motorcyclists sharing the road who aren’t there nearly as much in winter.  And in residental areas, there is a far better chance of a child rushing into the street after a ball than in winter.

But with a few checks and precautions, summer driving can be fun and simple. Have a great one!