Know Your Tyre Pressure Monitor and How it Can Help You

If you’re buying a new vehicle, there’s a big chance that it will be fitted with several safety add-ons including the tyre pressure monitor system (TPMS). If these are European and United States-made, new vehicles are mandated to include the system for safety purposes. In Australia, several organizations are pushing for the mandatory inclusion of the monitor in the new car. 

Although there’s no law similar to what’s used in Europe and the US, there’s no denying the fact that tyre pressure monitors are critical in promoting safety on the road. Many responsible drivers now add the tyre pressure monitor in their efforts to improve safety and boost the efficiency of their vehicles. So what exactly is a tyre pressure monitor and how can this help you boost the safety and efficiency of your vehicle?

Learn on How to Interpret the Light

The purpose of the TPMS is to warn the driver that at least one or more tires are under-inflated which can increase unsafe driving conditions. The low tire pressure of the TPMS is represented by the yellow symbol that lights up on the dashboard instrument panel. 

Aside from the yellow light, this symbol is represented by a cross-section of a tire with an exclamation point. The representation is easy to remember but there are some drivers and operators who often fail to notice or even interpret the meaning of the light. In a  2014 study by Schrader International, one of the leading providers of TPMS in the market, it found out that around 42 percent of all drivers can’t identify the low-tire pressure light on the instrument cluster. The same study also found out that almost the same number of drivers fail to regularly check the tire pressure.

And for those who recognize the light, 21 percent say that when they stop the vehicle, they only visually check the tire and not use a tire gauge. What’s alarming about this study is that 10 percent of all respondents ignore the light. 

As a responsible driver, it’s important to incorporate a safety program when maintaining and driving vehicles. And the installation of safety features and equipment like the TPMS available at Reverse Safe is just the start. To ensure complete safety and efficiency, you must know how to use the equipment. And when it comes to the proper use of TPMS, it should not be used as a substitute for regularly checking tire pressure and maintaining it at the recommended level.