The Ford Pinto is a subcompact that was manufactured and marketed by Ford for model years 1971–1980. In 1977 controversy surrounding the Pinto erupted after revelations that its structural design allowed its fuel tank filler neck to break off and the fuel tank to be punctured in a rear-end collision, resulting in serious and potentially deadly fires from spilled fuel.
In 2012, on a July morning in Minnesota, a driver was seen driving a Ford Pinto on U.S. Highway 52 in Koochiching County that too at a speed very close to the highway speed.This wagon was likely the worst one would ever see and it was still being used on a public road. This driver got noticed by a Minnesota State Trooper and was pulled over. The Minnesota State Patrol spokesperson described the car to be the lack of any floors to the when-is-this-going-to-break-in-half state. They couldn’t imagine why someone would risk driving this at speed.
Driving an unsafe car on the road is extremely dangerous. The driver is putting not only his, but also the lives of others at a serious risk.
Here are a few signs to look for in your car to determine that weather it is safe to drive or not.
- Take a look under the car to spot any leaks or punctures. Finding one or two spots would be alright but if you, judging by the quantity of oil spilled, find a big leak under our car, it would be unwise to still drive the car. Most people when in a situation like this would think that maybe they should get home first and then get the car checked b their mechanic. This usually makes things worse as driving the car in such a condition only makes matters worse for the car.
If you ever find yourself in a situation like this, my advice would be to call your personal car care specialist or just take a cab and go home and return with an automobile mechanic. - Check for low or damaged tires. If the tires are not in a state to be driven, don’t drive. Not even to the nearest service station. Not only will it completely ruin your tires, but you would also be putting the lives of yourself as well as the others at stake.
- Check your brake light, headlights and turn indicators. Working lights make your car much safer and they also help you to not get pulled over by a traffic officer.
- If you see some smoke rising from the hood of the car, it is obvious that you should stop. Usually smoke rising from a car is a bad sign but sometimes it’s just a small error for example, some oil might have spilled onto a hot exhaust pipe which may produce some smoke.
- Lastly, if you are leaving for a long journey, make sure that all your fluids are replenished. Moreover, you should also check your spare tire and make sure that it is in a good shape.
If your car has anyone of these signs, deal with them immediately. The driving schools in Guelph effectively explain this particular point in their driving lessons. An unsafe car, apart from posing a serious threat to life, can also get you pulled over by state’s traffic police and you may get legal penalty for it.
