NHTSA says 20 percent of US drivers do not check tyre pressures

Washington DC - The US-based National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that about one in every three cars in the US has a significantly under inflated tyre and that 660 fatalities and 33 000 injuries occur on US roads every year as a result of low tyre pressure-related crashes.

The US motoring organisations, AAA reports that each year they receive about 4 million roadside assistance calls due to tyre-related incidents. Not surprisingly, a 2006 Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) survey found that more than 80 percent of drivers do not know how to properly check their tyre pressure.

According to the Department of Energy properly inflated tyres can also improve fuel economy by around 3.3 percent and save 9 cents per gallon at the gas pump. RMA's goal is to encourage motorists to take better care of their tyres.

"Not enough drivers are taking proper care of their tyres and that can have an effect on vehicle safety," said Donald Shea, RMA president and ceo. "Properly inflated tyres promote safety, help tyres last longer and maximise fuel efficiency."

An RMA nationwide survey conducted in February, found:

* Only 19 percent of drivers properly check their tyre inflation pressure. Properly checking tyres means checking at least once a month before tyres have been driven even a mile and inflating them to the vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressure, not the pressure listed on the tyre sidewall.

* 28 percent of drivers wrongly believe that the best time to check their tyres is when they are warm after being driven at least a few miles.

* Less than half of drivers know where to find the correct tyre pressure - on a sticker in their vehicle that's usually found on the driver's door or in the owner's manual. 53 percent wrongly believe that the correct pressure is found on the tyre sidewall.

* 73 percent of drivers do not check the tyre pressure in their spare tyre.

* Each month, three out of four drivers wash their car while only about one in five correctly checks their tyre pressure.

To address these driver shortfalls, the RMA today announced the kickoff of the fifth annual National Tire Safety Week. As part of its "Be Tire Smart - Play Your PART" program, RMA has designated the last week of April to educate US motorists about the importance of tyre safety and proper tyre care. PART stands for Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread. To prepare for this week RMA has worked with more than 14 000 retail partners throughout the country to open their garage doors for drivers looking for instruction and information on tyre care and maintenance. Many tyre dealers and auto repair shops offer free tyre inflation pressure services throughout the year.

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Press release from RMA