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Consumer awareness
In
general it can be said that at least 50% of all European motorists are not
aware of nor have any knowledge related to the application and the use of
tyres. Several studies carried out in the recent past have shown this, in
spite of all the efforts made by our organisations in the member states.
Unfortunately any actions or campaigns organised failed to lead to
substantial improvement.
Lack
of tyre awareness
Organisations
agree on the need to make wide-scale and vigorous efforts, with the
support of all parties involved, to improve public awareness. Proposals
along these lines have been made in individual member states: either a
repressive form of tyre check (having the police check tyres) or a
preventive (a public information campaign). Most of the subjects dealt
with in this presentation are related to the public’s lack of tyre
awareness.
Improving
awareness
Other
suggestions for improving awareness are primarily the imparting of
knowledge during driving lessons, advice when buying a car or tyres and
the drawing up of a user manual instructing the motorist how to use tyres
efficiently, economically and in an environment-friendly way. Every point
of sale, including tyre specialists and car dealers, should be obliged to
instruct consumers and to hand over the user manual when invoicing. The
independent user manual should be a collaborative effort on the part of
manufacturers, consumer organisations, tyre specialists and governments,
preferably with the support of the Commission and sustained by a publicity
campaign lasting five years and leading to a change in consumer behaviour.
This will most certainly require centralised management and coordination.
What
every motorist should be aware off!
Choices made by car and tyre manufacturers are the results of vigorous
programs and studies. Decisions related to car and road safety finally
have to be transmitted by the tyres itself. Any change in the
characteristics, due to changes of wear, tyre pressure, but also road
surface, weather, speed and cornering can influence the safety of the car
and his passengers. If only motorists could (at a daily service) see the
contact areas of the tyres representing the final connection between car
and road surface, tyre awareness would not be such a problem. Only the
total area, an average equivalent to approximately 4 CD's are responsible
for transmitting the power of engine and brakes, steering, comfort for
passengers and the protection of crucial mechanical parts of the car,
influencing at the same time fuel consumption and CO2 emission, noise
emission and the tyre life (and all the costs that go with it). And all
this under different kinds of weather, speed and other circumstances.
Injuries
and casualties (Road Safety).
Economics
(tyre life, fuel).
Source: Continental
Comfort
(mechanical and physical).
Emissions
(CO2 and Noise).
Source: Pirelli
Family
well being (aquaplaning, does the consumer thinks about all his tyres
spare and driving caravans, etc.). |
