Latest news, weather and high school sports for Albany and Southwest Georgia

ALBANY, GA --
The 4th of July is upon us and that means many drivers will be hitting the road in vehicles that could need a tune-up.

No matter what holiday it is, Americans seem to end up on the roadways. Driving their vehicles hundreds of miles to enjoy a backyard barbeque with friends and family, or just cruising down to the lake for some rest and relaxation. However with triple digit temperatures expected through the next week, Southwest Georgia drivers should be having their cars serviced and checked.

"Checking your tire pressure, making sure that you don't have any leaks in your tires or anything like that. That can end up being a really bad situation should you have that problem. Basic check of the fluids, the engine oil, the coolant level in the radiator," said local mechanic Tom Gieryic.

Many drivers are unaware of the spots that can be drastically affected by severe heat. Car batteries are on of those parts, which Gieryic says is one of the biggest problems he faces during the summer.

"Batteries are actually affected more by heat than from the cold. A lot of people don't realize it until their battery goes dead and their stranded on the side of the road. So getting a routine battery check before a long road trip is always a good idea," said Gieryic.

Ultimately the best way to avoid being stranded on the side of the road is to give your car a basic check-up. Make sure every fluid is full, and the engine is running at top performance.