NHTSA Release Consumer Advisory: Checking Tires in Hot Weather Helps Improve Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a consumer warning on June 2 advising motorists to examine their tires for adequate inflation in addition to signs of tread wear and damage before taking to the road in hot weather. With National Tire Safety Week on the horizon for June 5-11, the consumer advisory aims to help promote tire safety awareness for motorists as the summer travel season kicks off and weather becomes increasingly warmer.
According to data provided by the NHTSA, almost 3,400 individuals were killed, and approximately 116,000 suffered injury, in tire-related accidents over the five-year period from 2005 to 2009.
Missouri personal injury attorneys have seen firsthand how devastating auto accidents are for injury victims and family members of wrongful death victims. That is why lawyers throughout the United States should be aware of the NHTSA’s tire safety campaign. Here are some tire safety tips and additional information for motorists:
- Always check your tire pressure before taking long trips
- Inspect your tires periodically
- Older tires are more likely to experience heat stress, especially if they aren’t accurately inflated, so consider buying new tires if yours are aged
- Your tire manufacturer or the vehicle owner’s manual will have recommendations about how often to change tires
- Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 PSI (pound per square inch) in pressure of all four tires
While many of us don’t think twice about our tires before we enter our vehicles to drive, this advisory emphasizes the importance of doing so, especially during hot weather and for long car rides. Be safe, everyone!
