RAC tests reveal the danger of poorly maintained vehicles

10 March 2010

Motorists are putting their lives at risk if they don’t get their cars serviced, a new RAC test has revealed.

Regularly serviced brakes, tyres and shock absorbers can save drivers more than eight metres in braking distance – which could be the distance between avoiding a crash and death or serious injury.

The tests, conducted at the RAC Driving Centre, simulated wet and dry road conditions and looked at braking distance as well as the ability of the vehicle to swerve to avoid objects. The tests were conducted at 60km/hr.

RAC Head of Member Advocacy Matt Brown said many people didn’t realise the full extent of not servicing a vehicle.

“Eight metres is a big distance and in a crash situation could be the difference between life and death,” Mr Brown said.

“The RAC tested a vehicle at 60km/hr but the reality is that many people will be driving at up to 110km/hr with heavily loaded vehicles when they go away for Easter, which means their stopping distance will be even greater.”

The vehicle was tested with poor shock absorbers, worn brake pads and balding tyres. It was towed to RAC Auto Services where the faults were fixed and then re-tested in the same conditions.

The un-serviced vehicle registered a braking distance of 13.1m in the dry and 23.5m in the wet. With fully serviced brakes, tyres and shock absorbers it registered a braking distance of 8.4m in the dry (a saving of 4.7m) and 15.4m in the wet (a saving of 8.1m).

“Vehicle maintenance and servicing are not something that you can ignore and put off. It’s something that needs to be factored into the family budget and carried out when it’s due,” Mr Brown said.

“It’s alarming that there are potentially so many motorists out there who are unaware their vehicles don’t meet the basic safety requirements.”

The RAC is urging all motorists to ensure their vehicles are properly serviced before they go away for Easter holidays.

“The Easter holiday period is one of the most dangerous on our roads. At this time of year motorists tend to be making longer trips, travelling at higher speeds and there are more vehicles on our country roads in particular.

“A lot of people will be travelling with their family in their car. If tyres and brakes aren’t working properly people are taking a big gamble and they’re gambling with their family’s lives.”

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