01/11/2016
A recent survey, compiled by TyreSafe, of over 25,000 tyres as they were being replaced at Welsh tyre outlets, showed that 29.1% were illegal.
October has been Tyre Safety Month, and Road Safety Wales Partners have been highlighting the importance of tyres to safer motoring through social media. It has been disappointing to note that two recent police campaigns highlighted problems with tyres on a number of vehicles. Drivers who fail to comply with the regulations face a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre. Leaving your tyre checks until the MOT is due could be an expensive decision.
Motorists can help reduce the risks to themselves and other road users by carrying out tyre checks every month and before long journeys. The air pressure in each tyre should follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended settings, and tread depth should be well over the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm, roughly the same as the rim of a 20p piece. If a 20p piece is inserted into the tread and the rim is visible, the tyre may be illegal. However, professional advice is to replace your tyres ideally as soon as they reach 3mm. While checking tread depth, also look out for any lumps, bumps, signs of ageing or scuffing on the tyre which may indicate internal damage.
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25/10/2016
Almost 250 people were caught speeding in the first three days since enforcement was introduced on the M4 around Newport.
The variable speed limit covers the stretch from junction 24 (Coldra) to junction 28 (Tredegar Park).
The system was introduced in 2011 but was inactive for five years - fines have only been issued since 10 October.
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20/10/2016
GoSafe have announced the results of their latest “20mph rule outside schools” campaign.
The campaign commenced on Monday 10th October 2016 and aimed to highlight the importance of respecting 20mph speed limits outside schools across Wales.
GoSafe are committed to the reduction of casualties on Welsh roads, and conduct regular campaigns in 20mph zones in order to influence the behaviour of motorists. This involves enforcing the speed limits at the start and end of the school day.
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19/10/2016
Recaro Child Safety is implementing a replacement programme for its Recaro fix base, which can be used with the child seat Optia and the infant carrier Privia. Only Recaro fix base stations of a clearly defined production batch are affected. The replacement programme is free of charge for customers.
For more information from Recaro please click here
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19/10/2016
On Monday 17th October 2016 Gwent Police had a day of action along the M4 in Newport.
The operation came as part of Modern Day Slavery Week, in a bid to tackle the perpetrators and offer support to victims of slavery.
Officers on the day worked closely with colleagues from Trading Standards, VOSA, DVLA, DWP and licensing officers from local councils. Together they have been gathering intelligence, visiting businesses, carrying out patrols, and conducting vehicle checks across Gwent.
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19/10/2016
Following the completion of a review of speed limits on county roads, Ceredigion County Council is introducing changes to speed limits at a total of over 80 locations within Ceredigion.
The review made use of current Welsh Government guidance and criteria used by the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership. The changes are intended to improve road safety and reduce the number of casualties on roads within the county, by ensuring that speed limits are appropriate and make sense to drivers.
Speed limits are designed to balance the needs of all road users and take into consideration the potential for over-restriction to lead to driver frustration and a decrease in road safety. Many of the changes are in line with requests from local communities, and all have been subject to statutory consultation.
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18/10/2016
Motorists in Carmarthenshire are being urged to tread carefully by carrying out regular checks on their car tyres.
This October is National Tyre Safety Month and the council’s road safety unit are encouraging drivers to check their tyres, especially before long journeys. The message is simple: Don’t chance it – check it!
Drivers should make sure their tyres are at the correct pressure and replace them when worn or damaged.
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07/10/2016
Road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist is advising drivers to take extra care in areas where deer are common, as their breeding season gets underway. The coming weeks mean deer are more mobile than usual, bringing them onto roads and increasing the risk of collisions.
Estimates indicate that up to 75,000 deer are killed each year in road collisions.
GEM road safety officer Neil Worth says: “We encourage drivers to be extra observant, especially as the mornings and evenings get darker. Be ready to take appropriate avoiding action if you come across a deer on the road ahead.
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04/10/2016
A delay to the start of the public inquiry on the proposed M4 Corridor around Newport Project, caused by actions of the UK Government, will not impact on the due completion date of the project in 2021, Economy and Infrastructure Secretary Ken Skates pledged today.
UK Government officials at the Department for Transport, have introduced revised methodology to their new forecasting for growth, an unexpected change not shared in advance with the Welsh Government, which has necessitated a delay to the inquiry start date.
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26/09/2016
TyreSafe is launching their annual tyre safety campaign on 1 October, which will run for the whole of October.
Research carried out by the TyreSafe team and Highways England into tyre tread depth at the point of replacement, has shown that over 340,000 tyres, surveyed by 800 retailers across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales confirmed that more than one-in-four British motorists are replacing their tyres when they are already illegal. In 2016, that equates to potentially over 10 million illegal and dangerous tyres on Britain’s roads. In combination with the number of casualties resulting from tyre-related incidents, the MoT failure rate due to defective tyres, and surveys of British motorists’ awareness of tyre safety issues, there is unquestionable evidence that attitudes need to change.
In addition to the fact that routine tyre checks would prevent many of these incidents, this evidence has been the inspiration behind this year’s Tyre Safety Month campaign – Don’t chance it, Check it.
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