RAC Puts Pressure on Garages

The RAC is putting pressure on garages to provide free tyre pressure gauges in order to help prevent accidents. According to the RAC, only one in three motorists check their tyres before a long journey, despite the obvious safety risks associated with wrongly inflated tyres.

A recent survey conducted in Scotland by the Tyre Industry Council found that 90 per cent of the cars they tested had under or over-inflated tyres. Now representatives of the RAC Foundation say petrol stations should provide free pressure gauges. Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said people should check their tyres regularly. “Garage operators could do a lot to restore good relations with customers by providing reliable air equipment free. In the UK, charging for air has been commonplace for years justified by the argument that the equipment is expensive to install and maintain. Making the use of the kit free would encourage drivers to check pressures and help diffuse resentment about high fuel costs.”