Don't Chance It - Check It
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.
While the need to carry out regular tyre checks may seem obvious, an alarming number of Britain’s motorists are replacing their tyres only when they have already become illegal and dangerous. If they carried out monthly tyre checks, this avoidable safety issue could be rectified.
- Potentially over 10 million illegal and dangerous tyres could be on Britain’s roads in 2016
- Tread depth has a decisive influence on the way your vehicle accelerates, brakes and corners
- Safe tyres with legal tread depth will reduce the risks to you, your passengers and all road users
- Driving on tyres with illegal tread depth not only reduces your safety on the road but also risks a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre
The total number of casualties resulting from tyre-related incidents over last five reported years* is 5,677 of which 989 people were killed or seriously injured, annually averaging 1135 and 198 respectively.
- Where casualties arise from an accident caused by a vehicle defect, tyres are the single largest contributory factor over the last five reported years*, accounting for 36% of the total
- The estimated cost of tyre-related incidents to the economy over the last five reported years* is £416 million, averaging £83.2 million annually
- Annually, 2.2 million cars fail the MoT due to tyre-related defects**
- TyreSafe’s survey in partnership with Highways England revealed potentially up to 10 million, or more than one-in-four cars and vans on Britain’s roads, was driven with an illegal and dangerous tyre in 2016***
For more information about tyre safety, and resources for Tyre Safety Month visit Tyresafe.org.
* DfT five years to 2014
** DVSA 2012 to 2014
*** Phase one and two of the TyreSafe survey in partnership with Highways England