Did you know that having incorrect tyre pressure not only makes your vehicle a safety hazard, but also contributes to an enormous amount of premature deaths through air pollution?
This is the message being driven home by Sheffield City Council as it promotes its ‘Air Aware’ campaign, encouraging motorists to ensure their tyres are always properly inflated in order to save lives and help the environment.
Checking the air pressure in tyres only takes a matter of minutes, but if every vehicle owner made it part of their routine, it could have a huge effect on the city’s air quality, according to the Council.
Councillor Jayne Dunn, cabinet member for environment, recycling and streetscene at Sheffield City Council, explained: “Air quality is an absolutely vital issue for all of us here in Sheffield.
“Regardless of where people live in the city, or whether they are drivers, cyclists, walkers or bus users, each and every one of us can play an important part.
“Checking tyre pressure is something that it is all too easy to forget to do. But I would urge drivers who want to save money at the pumps – and be more Air Aware at the same time – to check regularly in order to ensure that their tyres are always inflated to the specified recommendations.
“Over-inflating tyres can be dangerous too, as they have a lower grip, so look up the tyre pressures recommended in your car’s handbook, and make air pressure checks a regular habit.”
The Air Aware campaign aims to raise particular awareness about two air pollutants; nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM10), which mainly come from road traffic.
Poor air quality has been estimated to account for up to 500 premature deaths per year in Sheffield, with health costs of around £160m per year. It has short and long-term health impacts, particularly for respiratory and cardiovascular health.
Those people who are particularly sensitive and are exposed to the highest levels of pollution have an estimated reduction in life expectancy by as much as nine years.