4 Important Reasons Why States Require Vehicle Safety Inspections – Guest Post

If you’ve been required to get a safety inspection for your vehicle, you may be wondering why this step is needed. Even if your vehicle is newer and has been deemed safe by the manufacturer, you still might need to get a separate safety inspection and show proof to your state that your vehicle meets all safety standards so that you can continue to drive legally. Your state may want you to get a vehicle safety inspection for the following reasons.

Safe Braking Capabilities

The vehicle should be able to come to a complete stop without any long delays that could result in a collision if you’re unable to stop quickly enough. The inspector will check the conditions of the brake pads, drums, and other brake system components to ensure that all parts are in working order and capable of bringing your vehicle to a safe stop. If any parts of your braking system aren’t up to standard, you may get the opportunity to have the problems fixed by a mechanic and have another safety inspection performed so that your vehicle can be certified as safe to drive.

Visibility While Driving

You should be able to see clearly while you’re driving in the darkest conditions, and other drivers should be able to see your vehicle as well. The best way to ensure visibility is to have working headlights and taillights that shine bright enough, and all the lights that are needed for visibility will be checked during a vehicle safety inspection. In addition to the standard headlights, the high-beam and parking lights will also be checked to ensure visibility in different situations.

The Reliability of the Tires

When taking your vehicle to a shop like All German Auto for an inspection, the mechanics can check the condition of each tire for problems. If any of your tires no longer have enough tread or are showing bald spots, the mechanics will likely recommend a tire replacement so that your vehicle can pass the inspection. The tires can also be checked for any cracks or sidewall damage during the inspection.

Air Pollution Output Reduction

Vehicle safety inspections often include emissions testing to determine how much air pollution each vehicle emits into the environment. This is done to limit the amounts of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants that may contribute to global warming and ozone layer depletion. Emissions testing can be done quickly and only requires your vehicle to be hooked up to special testing equipment for a short time while your engine runs to measure the pollution output.

A vehicle safety inspection can be beneficial to you, other drivers, and society in general. A thorough inspection may also save you from legal troubles that could keep you off the road. It’s important to recognize that states require these inspections for a reason. They not only want to protect you in your own vehicle, but keep you safe from vehicles on the road that might not be up to par, and thus dangerous to others.