INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), would like to remind motorists to ensure their tires are properly inflated and that the tread is not worn.
Motorists who drive on tires with inadequate tread or which are substantially under-inflated can increase their chances for injuries or fatalities resulting from a crash, according to authorities.
According to the NHTSA, more than 23,000 tow-away crashes are due to blow-outs or flat tires. Under inflated tires are attributed to crashes that result in 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year.
An NHTSA study indicated that 9 percent of all passenger vehicles on U.S. roadways are driven with at least one tire that lacks appropriate tread depth and 27 percent of passenger vehicles are driving on at least one under-inflated tire.
They are urging motorists to check tire pressure once a month and prior to traveling long distances. Also, to check tread depths frequently to make sure tread depth is no less that 1/16th of an inch deep. Tire pressure gauges and small rulers are available at nearly all auto parts stores as well as many drug and department stores. Authorities encourage drivers to purchase these inexpensive items and place them in the glove compartment of each of their vehicles.
Fourteen percent of all gas stations throughout the U.S. are not adequately equipped with air pumps or have malfunctioning air pumps, according to authorities.