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Penalty points for incorrect tyre pressure

First penalty points handed out for incorrect tyre pressures.

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The first penalty points for having incorrect tyres pressures have been handed out to an Irish driver, who picked up two points on their licence for having under-inflated rubber. The points are part of a package of recent additions to the penalties system, inaugurated back in April 2016.

Those griping about yet more penalty points and making remarks about Gardai needing to go and track down some proper criminals should probably remember that those four black, round things are all that connects your expensive, technically advanced car to the tarmac and if they're not in good condition, then things are not going to go well...

According to Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland: "Irish motorists need to realise that incorrect inflation of their tyres does not only have important safety implications for the performance of a vehicle, now you could get penalty points if your tyres are either over or under-inflated."

"This is very worrying as we know from previous surveys that we have carried out that Irish motorists are very lax when it comes to looking after their tyres. In one of our surveys, we found that only one in ten female motorists regularly check their tyres, while the figure for male drivers was a slightly more respectable 23 percent, however both figures show the vast majority of motorists pay scant regard to their tyres, a car's only contact with the road. And now, that disregard could cost them penalty points if their tyres are found to be unsafe due to over or under-inflation."

Independent UK tyre safety agency, Tyre Safe, has calculated that a tyre with just 20 percent under-inflation means that the effective life of that tyre will be reduced by 25 percent. That means that for a tyre with a normal effective life of 4 years, that under-inflated tyre would need to be replaced before 3 years, if the tyre did not suffer excessive damage before that stage. Tyre Safe has estimated that under-inflated tyres could cost an individual motorist a minimum of an extra €50 per year in fuel and that figure would rise significantly for seriously under-inflated tyres that are doing above average mileage.

Details of correct tyre pressures can normally be found in a vehicle's manual, on the driver's doorpost or in the fuel inlet compartment.

Mr. Dennigan added: "It can literally only take a couple of minutes to check your tyres so we are encouraging all motorists to do this more regularly. With regard to checking the pressure of a tyre, motorists can easily purchase a tyre pressure gauge, but the easiest option is the air pump at your local garage. It is true that some outlets now charge to use the air pump and pressure gauge, however I would contend that it is worth the very minimal cost, in particular when you consider the ongoing cost implications of driving with incorrect pressures, not to mention the cost of penalty points. That small fee guarantees that you have efficiently maintained and calibrated equipment that will ensure your vehicle continues to run safely and efficiently and, just as importantly, that you stay the right side of the law in relation to tyre pressures."

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Published on January 31, 2018