In the U.S. each year, hundreds of deaths in road accidents are attributed to tire defects, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data. Adding TPMS to all vehicles is estimated to save 660 lives per year, as well as preventing 33,000 injuries annually.
The life-saving concern is not exclusive to the U.S. The French Institution for Road Safety estimates that 9% of all fatal road accidents in France are due to tire under-inflation. In Germany, the DEKRA estimates that 41% of accidents with injuries are linked to tire problems.
So how could this happen? Even the most conscientious vehicle owner can have tires that run too low. That’s because tires leak air naturally. In a single year, the average new tire can lose as much as 9 psi. Most drivers will check tires only at routine service intervals or when a problem is detected. Drops in tire pressure likely would go unnoticed without TPMS technology in place.
A vehicle’s TPMS helps save lives, helping drivers to maintain tires properly and inflation levels, which has a direct and positive impact on vehicle safety. In addition, TPMS helps with fuel efficiency. Properly inflated tires, as monitored by TPMS, can save an estimated 500 million gallons of fuel annually in the U.S.