TimesFreePress.com, from Chattanooga, Tennessee, had an article on 8/15/10, called “Why rubber meets the road” by Adam Crisp. The article had an interesting twist in that it showed the dangers of State Clean Up Departments loosing funding in the long enduring economy. Adam expressed concerns of tire debris containing metals as well as rubbers and the dangers and costs that are incurred upon the drivers of the road. He believes that if the states do not clean the roads, that taxes should be lowered to help drivers pay for damages upon their automotives.
He also brought on some interesting statistics to support his stand below:
TIRE DEBRIS
A national study of tire failures showed:
* 39 percent of tire failures were caused by road hazards;
* 32 percent were caused by maintenance and operating issues;
* 30 percent were caused by excessive heat
* Majority of tire debris collected was not a result of manufacturing or retreading process deficiencies.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute’s “Commercial Medium tire Debris Study”
Adam Crisp focuses on compares Georgia and Tennessee. Georgia is facing more state cuts this year and it shows on the roads. They have one maintenance employee for every 28 miles.
The state of Tennessee, on the other hand, just spent $2 million dollars in 2009 for road clean up and maintenance and hope to raise that cost five percent by the end of 2010.
With the economy struggling and states hoping to stay afloat, cuts are made that affect our day-to-day lives. Luxuries we don’t realize we have are being minimized with only necessities left. Some may argue that road clean up is not a luxury but a necessity for safety concerns. Unfortunately, other priorities take place, all different in various states.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/aug/15/why-rubber-meets-road/
Tags: tire debris, truck tires