Posts Tagged ‘The Future of Product Safety’
After millions of product recalls of drop-side cribs through the years, last week the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced new rules that outlaw drop-side cribs last week.You can watch video of the decision here. The CPSC posts product recalls almost every day. Generally, the company that produces the product handles the recall and this month CPSC has already posted 18 product recalls. The CPSC also handles a lot of consumer complaints about products, but the nature of this function will change in the upcoming months. Currently, you can report problems with products to the CPSC but soon CPSC is going to let you see these reports.
Early next year you will be able go to Saferproducts.gov and file a report telling CPSC and other consumers about harmful and potentially harmful consumer products. The CPSC would then give your comment to the manufacturer, post your comment and the manufacturer’s response to it in a database. People will be able to search products and see what has been said about them before they buy it. This video will give you more details.
How do you research product safety?
When my mechanic told me that my tire tread had worn down and that it was time for me to get new tires, I grimaced inside. Although I knew that safe tires are important, I was aching for my savings account since a full set can cost upward of $400! I did not buy the tires right away; being a frugal consumer, I wanted to shop around for tire deals. I also wanted to check my tires’ tread for myself.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires that the tire tread be at least 2/32 of an inch. An easy way to determine tire tread is with the penny test: stick a penny in between the tire’s tread, with Abraham Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see the top of his head, then your tread is worn out. Sure enough, I could see his entire head, and had to face the truth– I had to fork over the money for new tires.
Proper tire maintenance is especially important in the colder winter months. When you’re driving in slippery and wet driving conditions, you want to make certain that your car can grip the road. In addition to proper tread, you should also check the tire pressure each month. I keep a tire gauge in my car; it might help if I used it sometimes. Properly inflated tires will help your tires last longer and improve your car’s fuel economy by 3%. You should also rotate your tires every 5,000 miles so that they have even wear over the life of the tire.
Do you have any other tips for keeping your tires in good condition?