THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.  THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Drivers beware -- that's right. Many of you may be cruising around with under-inflated tires. Officials say it's a common oversight that can lead to accidents and even deaths. A federal report released this morning shows many drivers could be on the road to trouble. CNN's Alexa Lee reports.</s>ALEXA LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tires will take care of you, if you take care of them. But many, according to a newly- released study, are not properly maintained and could put you and other drivers at risk.</s>MANTILL WILLIAMS, AAA: Although tires are the most important piece of safety equipment on the vehicle, they are also the most neglected piece of equipment on the car.</s>LEE: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration surveyed close to 12,000 passenger vehicles. It found 27 percent of passenger cars and 32 percent of light trucks, including SUVs, vans and pickup trucks, hit the road with substantially under-inflated tires. The consequences can lead to disasters: tire failures and blowouts, even fatalities. Under-inflated tires also wear more quickly and cause increased fuel consumption. The administration recommends motorists inspect tire pressure at least once a month. (on camera): And just a visual inspection won't do. You need to use a gauge, because some tires can appear fully inflated even when they are not. (voice-over): The American Automobile Association suggests you inspect tire treads also. Another test: scan the sidewalls, making sure there are no abrasions or bulges. The survey also determined older vehicles are more likely to be driven with poorly maintained tires. The administration has proposed new safety standards, requiring tire pressure monitoring systems in new passenger cars and light trucks. The hope is drivers would be warned when they are on the road with under-inflated tires. Alexa Lee, CNN, Atlanta.
Many People Driving on Under-Inflated Tires