Getting Back to Normal

New York State reached the milestone of having at least 70% of the population vaccinated with at least one shot. Governor Cuomo announced that there will be no restrictions except for certain circumstances such as medical offices and hospitals. If you have been out on the roads, you will have noticed that ever since Memorial Day, the roads and highways have been close to pre-COVID levels. That means that things like accidents are also getting back to pre-COVID levels.

It is very important to make sure your car is safe before taking it out on the road. For many of us, our cars sat idle for much of last year, and as a result, we haven't had a need to take our cars to the mechanic for repairs and many people even let their inspections expire.

Before you head out on a road trip, you should make sure your car is ready for the road. Get your inspection up to date. When you do that, we will check things like your brakes, tires, and windshield wipers to ensure that your car is as safe as can be.

If you are heading out on a road trip, other things you should check include your belts and hoses, check that all of your lights are functioning properly, including your brake lights, and check all of your car's fluids. Since we are in the middle of summer, you should also make sure your coolant levels are good and that your car is not getting too hot when you drive.

It is also important to check your air conditioner. While your air conditioner doesn't directly affect how your car runs, the last thing you want is to drive a car that is so hot inside, it makes it unbearable to drive. When you turn your air conditioner on, cold air should start to blow within seconds. If your air conditioner is blowing warm air that never gets cold or takes a while to cool down, you should get the system checked out.

Most of us are going to be using our cars this summer more than we have in the last two years. Please call us to have your car checked to make sure it is safe to drive and can make a long road trip without incident.