US Drivers Going Soft on Tyre Pressure Checks
According to a recent US survey conducted by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), motorists are today paying less attention to their tyres than they were a year ago. Just over 50 per cent of drivers responded that they have checked their vehicle’s tyre pressure within the past month, compared to 70 per cent last year.
The RMA believes this decrease in attentiveness is linked to the drop in fuel prices during the past 12 months. “Our most recent survey suggests that when gas prices began to drop last fall, so did drivers’ attention to their tyres,” said Donald B. Shea, president and CEO of the RMA. He added “low tyre pressure-related crashes are to blame for 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries every year. Motorists need to understand that while proper tyre pressure will save them a couple of dollars at the pump, it will also help keep our roads safer.”