COLUMBUS, Ohio — Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO of the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), will be among the presenters at a May 22 event to promote passage of a bill to ban unsafe used tires from Ohio roads.
Ms. Luke will appear at the event to urge passage of Ohio Senate Bill 223, along with Ohio State Sen. Frank LaRose, State Rep. Robert Sprague and Kimberly Schwind of the AAA Ohio Auto Club, according to a May 16 USTMA news release.
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that more than 700 fatalities in 2016 were caused by worn-out tires, the USTMA said.
"Consumers should always approach a used tire purchase with caution," the association said. "It can be difficult to accurately track the storage, maintenance and service history of any tire.
"S.B. 223 would clearly define the characteristics of unsafe used tires and prohibit the installation of any such tires on vehicles that would travel on public highways," it said.
The May 22 press briefing coincides with National Tire Safety Week, May 21-28, during which the USTMA, its member companies and tire retailers such as Discount Tire conduct consumer education programs to educate drivers on proper tire inflation and maintenance.
"The goal of National Tire Safety Week is to encourage tire safety and maintenance — and, this year, also highlight the potential dangers of unsafe used tires," the association said.