If you saw this symbol, would you know what it meant? Are you familiar with your car’s warning lights? If you don’t recognize this sign, you’re not alone. When surveyed, one out of every three drivers could not identify this symbol. It’s a warning that the tire pressure on your car is too low. This light is triggered when your tire pressure dips 25% below the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Since 2008, this warning symbol has been a requirement in vehicles.
It seems as though auto makers have dropped the ball on educating consumers about the meaning behind this warning. Though the device was designed to be universal and “idiot proof”, that just isn’t the case. According to this article , 46% of drivers had no idea that the symbol represented a tire while almost 15% misinterpreted the symbol and believed it was warning about a different part in the vehicle.
As a Columbia personal injury lawyer , I can’t stress the importance of tire safety enough. If your tires are underinflated, you car won’t brake as efficiently, and stability and cornering will be compromised. A tire with low pressure can rupture, causing you to lose control and possibly even lead to a car accident . I urge you to review this guide on how to check your tire pressure, if you’ve never done it before.