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Rental Car Safety
Car rentals are increasingly popular with many travellers opting to rent vehicles while on business or on holiday. However, drivers of
rental carsaremorevulnerable toautoaccidentsas theyareusuallydrivingonunfamiliar roads inunknown trafficconditions. Take time
to familiarise yourself with the vehicle especially right-hand vs. left-hand drive, andmake all necessary adjustments tomirrors, seat
backs and head rests. Inquire about or bring an emergency road kit and ask the car rental representativewhat you should do if the car
breaks down. Reviewmaps and visitor information before you leave– reading thesematerialswhile driving is dangerous. Understand
the local “road culture” andknowthemotor laws beforedriving. Drivedefensively–watchout for other drivers.
Rental Check
The first 15minutes you spendwith your rented car ismost probably themost
crucial period. Here are some tips onwhat you should be looking out for before
cruising in your rental.
First Thing’s First
Check
your rental for scratches,
dings and tears. The car rental
agent will be circling your car
while making notes of blemishes
and you should do the same.
Use your camera or even your
smartphone. This will save you
from being accountable for
scratches you didn’t cause.
Hot or Cold
Turn
on the heat or air conditioning to
allow the interior to warm up or cool
down – depending on the destination and
the season – while you get your bearings.
This will allow you to make sure they
are working perfectly for a comfortable
journey.
Safety Check
Check
the tread wear on the tyres and
make sure they are not overly worn.
Inspect the car for a spare tyre that is
properly inflated, a jack and a lug wrench.
Test the brakes while the engine is running
and ensure that the car has front and rear
seat belts.
Switches and controls
Test
the turn signals, horn, window
controls, headlights andwindshieldwipers
for any operating issues. Windshield
wipers are one of the most common
complaints from car rental customers.
Start Up
Starting
your car and allowing it to
warm up would be a good call. This gives
you the leeway to make sure the car is
running well, without any strange noises.
Fuel up
Check
the fuel gauge and make sure
you’ll have enough fuel to at least drive
to the nearest petrol station. You wouldn’t
want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere
in an unfamiliar location.