CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Chester Gillan, Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment is sending out a word of encouragement to drivers to check the tire pressure on their vehicles regularly.

The department’s Young Environmentalist Program is launching a tire pressure campaign this week. Over- or under-inflated tires can adversely affect safety, cause premature tire wear, reduce fuel economy and impact the environment.

They are conducting tire pressure checks on vehicles parked in the area of the provincial government buildings in Charlottetown this week. Results are being recorded and posted with an information flyer on windshields of participating vehicles.

Transport Canada studies show 70 per cent of the tires on the road are under-inflated, and Gillan says that pressure checks are an integral part of the overall maintenance of the vehicle but often get overlooked.

An over-inflated tire wears on the centre of the treads, whereas an under- inflated tire wears on the outside of the treads and both can reduce the life of the tire by 10,000 kilometres. As well, tires that are below recommended inflation pressure can decrease fuel mileage by 10 per cent. In turn, this increased fuel consumption contributes to increased carbon dioxide emissions.