A recent study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlighted the dangers related to worn-out and Underinflated tires. While hundreds of accidents occur on the roads in Florida each day, because of a huge array of reasons, Underinflated tires play a bigger role than many people are aware of.
The study focused on data from the years of 2005 to 2007 before there were tire-pressure monitoring systems being installed on vehicles. This data revealed that vehicles that drove on tires that were Underinflated by over 25 percent were three times more likely to be involved in an accident than vehicles that had tires that were properly involved. Also, it was discovered that Underinflated tires have a 25 percent risk of becoming overheated, which can result in vehicle failure. This may also affect the handling and life of the vehicle.
Another part of the study showed that approximately five percent of all vehicles considered experienced some type of tire issues virtually right before a collision occurred. The makeup of this five percent included:
- 66 percent of the vehicles were passenger cars
- 17 percent were Sports Utility Vehicles
- 31 percent of accidents weren’t related to the tires at all
This information reinforces the fact that tire issues are typically evident in the period of time before a collision occurs.
How to Respond to this Information
With the information presented in the study, it is recommended that drivers not only inflate their tires properly but that they also monitor the tread depth of the tires closely. This is a recommendation that comes from statistics of the study that states that tire-related crashes are more likely to occur when the tread is worn out. It was also discovered that accident rates were only 2.4 percent when the tires had full tread depth and increased to 26 percent when the tires were worn out. It is a good rule of thumb to purchase new drivers when the tread depth is 4/32”, while there is some all-weather grip still present.
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With the information provided by this study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if you drive a motor vehicle, you need to ensure the tires are properly maintained at all times. Regardless of if you drive a vehicle that has a tire pressure monitor installed or if you use a monitor tire pressure gauge, it is essential that you check the pressure of the tires on a regular basis. This can help prevent the risk of an accident, a personal injury or even wrongful death.
If you are involved in in any type of motor vehicle accident, it is imperative to contact a West Palm Beach attorney right away. The longer you wait, the more issues your attorney may have proving the case and helping you recover the compensation you deserve. If you have questions or would like more information, contact Fetterman & Associates today.