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One-third of drivers in the U.S. have no idea what the massive symbol shown here actually signifies when it lights up on their dashboard. If you know that this is a Tire Pressure Monitoring System warning light, good for you. The light is activated by TPMS systems when the system detects that one or more tire is below a safe air pressure limit. TPMS systems are federally-required equipment on all new vehicles currently sold in the U.S.
TPMS systems are produced by such companies as Schrader – the inventor of the ‘Schrader’ pneumatic valve found in virtually all cars, trucks, and motorcycles today. Schrader realized recently that one-third of American drivers don’t know what the low-pressure emergency light signifies or what to do when it is lit. To help inform drivers of a system that the NHTSA says will help prevent 8,500 automobile accidents annually, Schrader has helped to create a Web site that teaches drivers how their TPMS works and what to do in the event of an emergency.
The TPMS light is not only lit when a tire is completely deflated, but also when tire pressure is dangerously low – a condition that could lead to a potential accident. While the system is no substitute for manually checking tire pressure at regular intervals, it can help prevent disaster – or at least inconvenience – in between pressure checks.
For more information, visit the TPMS Made Simple Web site at the link below.
Source: TPMSMadeSimple, Schrader, USA Today
I don’t know, but a friend of mine called me a few months ago to ask what it meant.
“Schrader realized recently that one-third of American drivers don’t know what the low-pressure emergency light signifies or what to do when it is lit.”So… Is it two thirds, or one third that doesn’t know? Please explain.