TYRE manufacturer Bridgestone has noted a remarkable decline in the safety of drivers in Europe due to poor tyre maintenance.
In the 8th edition of the Bridgestone study, based on the results of over 28 000 free tyre safety checks carried out in 2012, about 78% of vehicles were found to have underinflated tyres whilst over 25% had tyres that were worn beyond the legal limit.
The figures suggested a critical situation, given that they represent an increase of around 25% on 2011.
The study attributed the increase with the economic crisis, rising fuel prices and declining purchasing power.
Bridgestone warns against the dangers of underinflated and/or worn tyres as incorrect inflation pressure and/or worn tyres compromise safety on the roads by decreasing stability and steering response while increasing braking distances.Moreover, the tyre maker said that poor tyre maintenance is costly in the long term, since, underinflated tyres not only wear out faster but are also responsible for an estimated 3.9 billion liters of wasted fuel and 9.2 million tonnes of unnecessary CO2 emissions per year.