Check Your Tire Pressure Frequently to Avoid Accidents

Thursday, July 8th, 2010 | Lawyer Marketing

Underinflated tires are at a high risk for tire failure, which is a factor in thousands of accidents every year. When a tire is underinflated, it can’t maintain its shape, and may become flat while the car is in motion. Even just a little under-inflation of six psi, could contribute to tire failure. A new survey finds that large numbers of Americans continue to drive with tires that are poorly inflated.

The survey was conducted by the Rubber Manufacturers Association, and studied more than 6,300 vehicles. It found that 55% of the vehicles in the study had at least one underinflated tire. When you take that in the context of the US population, it means that nearly 140 million vehicles in the US are being driven with at least one underinflated tire. The survey found that only 17% of all vehicles had all four properly inflated tires. That figure represents just 38 million vehicles on our roads. Obviously, it’s a really small percentage of vehicles that are perfectly equipped to handle sudden braking, turns and curves without flipping over.

Tire failure is especially closely linked to rollover accidents. In fact, tire failure is one of the main contributing factors in these devastating crashes. Every year, rollover accidents account for approximately 30% of all accident-related fatalities in the US. These accidents typically involve sport-utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans that tend to have a higher center of gravity. However, passenger vehicles like sedans can also flip over in certain situations.

The Rubber Manufacturers’ Association recommends that you check your tire pressure every day. A visual inspection may not be enough to gauge the tire pressure. Check your tire pressure before a long journey. Make sure that the tire is properly inflated, and not overinflated. Your car user manual will come with the right inflation pressure for your tire.

There are other reasons Las Vegas personal injury lawyers would give for you to keep your tires properly inflated. Properly inflated tires can help you save on fuel, and can also increase the lifespan of your tire.

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