Vehicle inspections can save you money and make the roads safe

Installing a large mirror to the front of the vehicle to make up for the lack of visual clearance on the passenger side is ingenious in its own way, but not recommended.

For most of us, a vehicle inspection is just something that is performed as a courtesy during a service. Most customers accept that it's the normal procedure and usually means a bunch of recommendations that will help you spend more money than you had planned. Many shops use it as a tool to create upsells and increase profitability. Standard business. However, the most important thing it should do is keep us safe.

Safety is more than just seat belts and airbags. It's also more than just keeping you safe. It also means keeping others around you safe. In the above photos, I'm joking about some of the issues, but they really aren't a laughing matter if something fails. It could mean serious injury or death if this persons' "extend-a-rack" falls off into traffic going down the road. My lovely wife, Jennifer, points out that its sad that someone is probably living in that because of whatever events in life that lead them there. While I do have some sympathy, I also have a certain amount of concern for everyone else that is around this vehicle on the road.

While your vehicle may not be to that extreme, it's important to take warnings about the brakes, steering or suspension seriously. As we rocket down the road in our cars, we tend to feel like we are pretty safe. We text, make phone calls, adjust our seats and radios, eat, yell at our kids and do pretty much everything but focus on the road. That's because we assume we are safe. Unfortunately, emergency responders can tell a different story. The gruesome truth is that when a part fails at high speeds, a lot of bad things can happen.

So the next time you get a inspection report and you groan at the thought of the cost, consider the price of your life and those around you. Pass on the recommended flushes if you want, but take the steering, brakes and suspension seriously. We will all live a little better for it. And....Live Long and Prosper!!
(Oh yes, I did! A little shout out to Nimoy. RIP)