[On the Way Home] Essential Vehicle Inspection Before Long-Distance Travel, Keep a Fire Extinguisher Handy

On the 23rd, one day before the Lunar New Year holiday, vehicles were lined up moving on the southbound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway near Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, as seen from a police helicopter. (Aerial photography cooperation = Lieutenant Kim Hong-gyu and Kim Doo-su, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Aviation Unit) / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] On the 24th, when the Lunar New Year holiday began, the full-scale procession of homecoming and returning trips started. During the Lunar New Year holiday period, long-distance driving is frequent, making vehicle inspections essential for accident prevention. However, some drivers were found to be neglecting vehicle inspections.

According to a survey conducted last month by an automobile management company targeting 636 male and female drivers on the "Status of Vehicle Inspections Before Long-Distance Driving During the Lunar New Year Holiday," 16% of respondents answered that they "do not inspect their vehicles before long-distance driving."

The proportion of respondents who do not inspect their vehicles decreased by 14 percentage points compared to last year's survey, but some drivers still regarded vehicle inspections as an unimportant matter. The reasons for not inspecting vehicles (multiple responses allowed) were "because it's bothersome (49.5%)," "because they do not know what to check and find it difficult (45.5%)," and "because they do not have time (29.7%)."

Before long-distance driving, drivers should regularly visit maintenance shops to receive inspections and management from experts. However, if there is no time to visit a maintenance shop, self-inspection can be done, during which the tire wear condition, engine oil, and coolant should be checked.

The tire wear condition can be easily checked using a 100-won coin. Insert the 100-won coin upside down into the tire groove; if Admiral Yi Sun-sin's hat is not visible, the tire is normal, but if more than half of the hat is visible, the tire should be replaced. Also, in winter when temperatures drop, the air inside the tires contracts, lowering the air pressure, so do not forget to add about 10% more air than usual.

It is best to check the engine oil after parking on a flat surface, turning off the engine, and letting it cool. Open the hood, pull out the dipstick, and if the engine oil is between the F and L marks, it is normal. If it is below L, engine oil should be replenished.

Checking the coolant is also best done after parking on a flat surface. Open the hood and check the coolant gauge next to the auxiliary tank; if it is between MAX (maximum) and MIN (minimum), it is normal. If it is below MIN, additional coolant should be added.

Also, to prepare for emergencies, a fire extinguisher should be kept in the vehicle. According to current law, passenger cars and vans with seven or more seats must be equipped with a vehicle fire extinguisher. Starting from May, all vehicles must carry a fire extinguisher, but for vehicles with fewer than seven seats, this is not mandatory until then. However, for long-distance driving, due to the high possibility of fire caused by engine overheating or regular device problems, carrying a vehicle fire extinguisher is essential.

Vehicle fire extinguishers can be easily purchased at large supermarkets or online, and they are manufactured to ensure no leakage of contents or damage/deformation of the container. The top of the extinguisher body container is marked with "For Vehicle Use."