The DGT and the Traffic Sector of the Civil Guard of Galicia activate an intensive monitoring plan of tires and lights to emphasize the importance of their proper maintenance

The Government Delegation in Galicia informs that the DGT and the Traffic Sector of the Civil Guard of Galicia activate from today an intensive surveillance plan that will focus on checking the correct condition of tyres and lights. From today until next Thursday, October 24, the patrols of the Traffic Group will pay special attention to the proper maintenance and tuning of these two security elements of the vehicle to affect the importance of its proper maintenance.

This intensive surveillance coincides with the arrival of adverse weather, typical of the time of year, and with the imminent change of time next weekend and the decrease of hours of light. During these days, the variable signage panels of the roads of Galicia will warn of these specific controls

According to a study by Traffic, the risk of dying or being seriously injured is doubled when comparing accidents with vehicles from 10 to 15 years old, in relation to vehicles less than 5 years old. Taking into account this relationship between risk and age of the vehicle, the proper maintenance of all safety elements becomes an essential activity to combat accidents.

TIRES

The tyres are the only and decisive contact with the road. They are responsible for ensuring adherence in pushing, braking and lateral sliding. They also ensure that the direction of the vehicle’s travel is as desired by the user and the cushioning of the pavement imperfections. It is recommended that the depth of the grooves should be at least 3 millimeters. The legal limit is 1.6 millimeters

Approximately more than a million vehicles, or 5%, drive with serious wheel defects, mainly because they have a design depth below the legal minimum of 1.6 mm; have irregular wear due to poor suspension or incorrect alignment; and circulate with erroneous pressure.

It is also necessary to regularly check the pressure of the cold tyre and the spare wheel, as well as to check possible air leaks through the valves. The cap of the same constitutes a sealing element, so its use is essential.

LIGHTING AND SIGNAGE

The purpose of vehicle lights is not only to see, but also to be seen, since each vehicle in circulation is, in practice, an obstacle for others, so the delimitation of its presence is also decisive for pedestrians and cyclists, the most vulnerable.

In order to ensure safe driving, it is advisable to pay special attention to the use, maintenance and regulation of headlights, in order to ensure, on the one hand, sufficient light and, on the other, not to dazzle those who drive on the same public roads.

It is recalled that it is mandatory to use the lighting that is established by regulations when there are meteorological or environmental conditions that significantly reduce visibility, such as in case of fog, heavy rain, snowfall, clouds of smoke or dust or any other similar circumstance.

Especially in this season of the year, with fewer hours of light the DGT recommends that vehicles carry the lights on, even during the day: A car with the light on is always visible at a greater distance, without depending on whether it is a black, grey or white vehicle. It has been proven that driving during the day with the “short” lights on drastically reduces the risk of an accident, increases the visibility of the vehicles and in addition, pedestrians perceive the vehicle that approaches them first.