How To Keep On Top Of Vehicle Maintenance: A Message From Battery World This National Road Safety Week

‘Pledge to drive so others survive’ is the slogan for National Road Safety Week (11-18 May 2025), and the Battery World team is reminding motorists that remaining safe on our roads is as much about vehicle maintenance as it is responsible driving.

With Australia recording 1300 road deaths in 2024 - an increase of 3.3 per cent year-on-year and those aged under 25 accounting for 283 of them¹ - vehicle education is key.

Things like the tread on the tyres, a functional and regularly serviced braking system, suspension and clean windows to improve driver visibility are all factors that motorists need to consider before taking to the road.

Whether driving to and from work, taking the kids to school or sport, or heading off on a road trip for the weekend, knowing and understanding the inner workings of your car can go a long way to reducing undue stress and costly repairs.

“Vehicle wear and tear, the power of certain models and little things like knowing what the lights on the dashboard mean are crucial for any motorist, but particularly those in the most vulnerable categories, like teenagers or new licence holders.

Tips for motorists to keep them safe on the road

1. Know the maintenance history of your car – when it’s due for a service; when it was last serviced and so on.
2. Know how to identify problems with tyres and brakes and then learning some maintenance strategies to keep on top of them is a good start, but just as important and often overlooked, is understanding and maintaining the car’s electrical system.
3. Know where the washer bottle is and how to top it up when required and noticing when the wiper blades are worn and to replace them.
4. Ensure you’re across what the symbols mean on the dash – it’s basically like a traffic light system. Red means stop, immediate action required; Orange means caution, something is not quite right, and Green means a function is set or active.
5. Know how to change a tyre and the type of fuel you need to put in your car. Not all vehicles take all fuel options.
6. Get your car battery regularly checked! Over 50% of all vehicle breakdowns are related to the starter battery. Battery World offers FREE battery health checks.

“As important as concentration and navigation skills are, vehicle maintenance education and safety are vital – it is all part of being a responsible motorist,” notes Battery World General Manager, Johnny Kennedy.

With the advancement of vehicle technology and electrical systems in all cars, whether they be petrol, diesel, Hybrid or Electric Vehicles, today, the battery has more demands on it than ever before and will give you little to no warning when it fails.

“No one wants to be left stranded on the side of the road – that in itself is a road safety concern,” adds Kennedy. “If you stay on top of the condition of your car and have it serviced regularly, get the battery checked and so on, you will avoid dangerous situations but also save yourself money in the process.”

For all your battery-related tips, jump onto www.batteryworld.com.au/expert-advice or drop in and ask a local Battery World team member at a store near you today.

¹https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/australias-2024-road-toll-the-deadliest-in-over-a-decade