University Police to Safety-Check Students' Vehicles Before Summer Break

April 12, 2001

Students leaving the University of Richmond for the summer will have an opportunity to get a free vehicle safety check from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on April 26.

Students may bring their vehicles to the commuter parking lot below the intramural field on campus where the police will check and refill fluid levels; ensure that all lights work; verify that license and registration are current; and look for obvious defects in tires, belts, hoses and filters. Students whose autos need service will receive a discount coupon that will be honored at several local garages.

"We want to make sure that our students don't break down on the way home because of obvious problems that we can detect," said Sergeant Mike Murray of the university's police department, which initiated the project four years ago to reduce accidents and to teach responsible automobile maintenance.

"We try to take the mechanical aspect out of any potential problems they may encounter on the drive home. Many students either don't have the time to get their autos checked or don't know what to look for, so we make the process easy. We also teach students how to check their oil, how to check for signs of wear in tires and hoses and how to identify alignment problems."

Faculty and staff also are invited to take advantage of the free vehicle safety check. While waiting their turn, they and students can enjoy free soft drinks and pizza, courtesy of Domino's Pizza, who will co-sponsor the event with Trak Auto and University Auxiliary Services.