When we’re first learning to drive, the person teaching us — whether it’s a parent, a friend or relative, or an instructor at school — usually places a lot of emphasis on the importance of driving safely. It’s easy to take the whole experience of driving for granted, but even a minor fender bender is enough to remind you of just how dangerous vehicles can be when not operated safely.
Of course, there’s only so much that you can do as a driver to ensure the safety of you and your passengers. At the end of the day, part of what makes you safe (or less safe) while driving comes down to the state that a given vehicle is in. These days, brand new vehicles are equipped with a wide variety of safety features, including electronic controls, front-mounted radars, rear-mounted cameras, and high tech braking systems designed to dramatically reduce the risk of injury for drivers and passengers alike. Unfortunately, though, older cars don’t always share these capabilities.
Aside from missing some of these important new safety features, older vehicles can present a number of risks due to their age and condition. Junk cars are especially prone to safety issues. Dry southern state like Texas can be especially hard on gaskets and rubber parts which is one reason why it makes sense to sell your junk car in Texas, rather than trying to continue driving it. Let’s take a look at 3 reasons why driving a junk car can be dangerous.
Table of Contents
- Rust
The phrase “junk car” is virtually synonymous with rust. It’s hard to picture a junk car in your mind without imagining it covered in rust from top to bottom. In some parts of the country where winters are especially cold, cars tend to rust much faster. This is due to the amount of salt that’s applied to the roads in the winter in order to melt snow and ice and improve road conditions.
While rust is certainly an eye sore, it’s not just a cosmetic issue. If you have rust on the undercarriage of your vehicle or around other important structural components, it could result in loss of structural support and lead to a crash. Even if this doesn’t happen, your vehicle will be less able to withstand the impact of a crash if its frame is rusted.
- Brakes
Good brakes are essential to keeping you safe out on the open road. When you need to slow down in a hurry, you want to know that you can rely on your brakes to bring your vehicle to a stop.
Older vehicles tend to have less than optimal braking systems to begin with. No older car with rear drum brakes will be able to compete with the braking power of a new vehicle that’s equipped with disc brakes and an anti-lock braking system. On top of this, though, many junk cars have brakes that are worn out and in need of replacement. Driving a junk car with an old, outdated, improperly maintained braking system can be incredibly dangerous.
- Breaking Down
We don’t typically think of a broken down vehicle as “dangerous” in the same way that an accident might be. But when you think about it, breaking down on the side of the road puts you at all sorts of risks. You’re exposed to the weather for one thing, and you may break down in an unsafe area. Additionally, you’re at risk of a car colliding with you or your vehicle while you’re waiting for help.
