Students with the province’s Environment Futures Program are checking the tire pressure on hundreds of vehicles in provincial government parking lots this week.
Minister of Environment and Energy Jamie Ballem said the campaign is aimed at increasing awareness that tire pressure should be checked at least once a month.
“Checking tire pressure is a simple part of regular car maintenance but it’s one of those things that a lot of us never think to do,” said Minister Ballem. “More than two-thirds of personal vehicles in Canada operate with at least one tire that is either under- or over-inflated. That has an impact on everything from safety to fuel efficiency and climate change.”
Under or over-inflated tires may not accelerate, brake or steer properly; and operating a vehicle with just one tire under-inflated by 8 psi can reduce the life of the tire by 15,000 kilometres and increase gas consumption by four per cent. Improper tire inflation costs Canadian drivers $500 million in additional fuel requirements each year. It also carries an environmental cost with increased carbon dioxide emissions which contribute to climate change. If every Canadian motorist maintained correct tire pressure, 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide would be eliminated.
Minister Ballem said the tire pressure campaign is part of ongoing efforts by the Province to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from personal and fleet vehicles. “Cars and light duty trucks are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases in Prince Edward Island. But they are also the area where we can make significant improvements through simple steps like keeping tires properly inflated and reducing unnecessary idling,” the Minister added.
Environment Futures students will be checking tire pressure of vehicles in the parking lots of provincial government buildings in Charlottetown and Access PEI sites throughout the province. Students will leave a flyer on the windshield of each vehicle, providing the results as well as some information on tire pressure.
Environment Futures is a summer program that trains high school and university students to do environmental protection and enhancement work. Students work in teams to carry out projects that provide environmental benefits to the community and offer a good educational and work experience to youth involved. For more information about the program or about tire pressure, contact the Department of Environment and Energy at (902) 368-5000.
Tips for checking tire pressure:
-Tires can lose two or more psi per month so it’s important to check tire pressure at least once a month.
-Purchase your own pocket tire pressure gauge to ensure accurate and consistent readings.
-Tire pressure will increase while driving so it is important to check tire pressure when tires are “cold” - when the car has been stationary for at least three hours or has not been driven more than two kilometres.
-The vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure for front, rear and spare tires can be found on the tire information label, which is usually located inside the driver’s door frame. If it’s not there, check the owner’s manual or call the dealer.
The pressure marked on the tire itself is the maximum pressure and is not likely to be the same as the manufacturer’s recommended pressure.