How to Avoid Car Crashes Caused by Tire Problems
Greensboro Personal Injury Lawyers note that if you think about it, your tires are what stands between your vehicle and the road on which it travels. Your tires are responsible for supporting the weight of your vehicle, transporting it from here to there, and (along with the shock absorbers) cushioning the ride. Too often, tires are ignored until there is a problem. Preventive maintenance for your tires will save you money and maybe even save a life if it prevents you getting involved in a car accident.
Tire problems and crash factors
An NHTSA study on Tire-Related Factors in the Pre-crash Phase, focused on tire problems in passenger vehicles that contributed to the cause of auto accidents such as blowouts, flat tires, tire or wheel deficiency, tire or wheel failure and tire degradation. In September 2007, the NHTSA updated the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards: FMVSS No. 138 to require tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) to be installed in passenger vehicles and light trucks. This report usedThe National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS) data from 2005-2007, which included 5,470 crashes showed that in 9 percent of those crashes, one or more of the vehicles involved had tire problems such as:
- Under-inflation by more than 25 percent
- Low tread depths
- Roadway-related factors contributed to tire problems
Safe tires help keep the vehicle safe
When a tire fails it can cause the vehicle to go completely out of control which can be both frightening and deadly. It is every driver’s obligation to make sure that their vehicle is in safe condition before they drive it on the public streets and highways. Having your tires in good condition makes the vehicle easier to handle and use fuel more economically, but they do require regular inspections and maintenance.
Here are a few tips to make sure that your tires are safe:
- Before you hit the road do a visual inspection of your tires. Make sure that they look properly inflated, and that they do not have tocks, nails or screws embedded in the tread.
- Check tire pressure, which means you have to know what the optimal pressure is for your vehicle. Look on the inside frame of the driver’s side door and you will see information about the tire’s optimal pressure range.
- Avoid potholes and other debris in the roadway.
- Replace any missing valve stem caps.
- Watch for worn down tread by inserting a penny between the treads head down. If the tread does not cover Lincoln’s head, the treat has been worn down and you may need new tires.
Car wrecks caused by tire problems are almost always preventable. Do your part and make sure that your tires are in good working order.
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Contact our Greensboro Personal Injury Lawyers today if you or someone you know has lost a loved one as a result of someone else’s negligence.