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In 2015, state representative Norm Thurston turned his eye to Utah safety inspections. A growing number of people weren't happy with the mandatory inspections and were questioning their merit. At the time, multi-point inspections were required at the 4 and 8-year mark, as well as every year after the 10th. However, research pointed to worn tires and brakes-parts that weren't dependent on a vehicle's age-as two common causes for accidents. During this time, John Kruger was interviewed about his thoughts, expressing concern with the complete removal of the inspection program. Kruger Auto Repair had caught legitimate safety issues before, and not every motorist knew when to replace their tires and brakes.

Read the news story here: Lawmaker wants to end Utah 's Auto Safety Inspections

On January 1, 2018, Utah ceased its mandatory safety inspection program for most vehicles as a prerequisite for registration.

Tires and brakes continue to be a safety concern when driving. Utah Highway Patrol cited bald tires as the cause or a contributing factor in three fatal accidents between January and February in 2019. On one vehicle, the tires were so worn that they wouldn't have been safe to drive in dry weather conditions, let alone the winter ones when the accident occurred. So how does a driver know when it's time to search for new tires? In another interview, John Kruger provides instruction on how to check tires for signs of wear. If your tread is at or or below the wear bar lines (notches embedded in the tires), then it's time for replacements. A driver should also make sure to inspect the tire fully, because they may catch irregular wear on one side that isn't present on the other. Altogether, there are around 20 items Kruger recommends inspecting every year. This list is different from the previous requirements for the Utah safety inspection, which Kruger found to be too focused on non-safety maintenance items.

Read the news story here: Is Your Car Safe to Drive? Here are Some Things to Check

If you'd like a multi-point inspection or a technician to check the condition of your tires and brakes, you can contact Kruger Auto Repair to schedule an appointment, or stop by the auto repair shop serving Holladay, UT, Bountiful, UT, Salt Lake City, UT, and surrounding areas.