road safety

A shocking new study suggests UK motorists are putting lives at risk due to an alarming lack of tyre safety knowledge. As the only point of contact with the road, checking and maintaining tyres is essential in ensuring the roadworthiness of the vehicle and optimising the safety of all road users. Yet fewer than a fifth (19 per cent) of those surveyed check their tyre tread depth every month, which is the recommended frequency.

TyreSafe, the UK’s tyre safety organisation, is calling on drivers to "take charge" of their safety by conducting vital tyre checks while waiting for their batteries to charge. This crucial period, often filled with scrolling on phones, grabbing a sandwich, or dozing in the front seat, presents an opportunity that could be life-saving if used to ensure tyre safety. The A.C.T acronym—Air, Condition, Tread—provides simple yet effective guidance on checks that can be done without specialist equipment. By taking just a few minutes to inspect their tyres, drivers can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and breakdowns. 

TyreSafe, the UK’s leading advocate for tyre safety, is launching a new campaign targeting driving and car maintenance habits. Dubbed #DriveJanuary as a play on the health and wellbeing #DryJanuary campaign, TyreSafe wants drivers to make “a realistic commitment to road safety” part of their New Year’s resolutions, with monthly tyre checks at its core. The organisation frames tyre safety as a monthly routine in a bid to contribute to a safer road environment, creating lasting behavioural change among drivers. The TyreSafe 2023 Tread Depth Survey reveals that almost half the UK cars on the road have low or illegal tread.

An estimated 6 million tyres on the road have illegal tread, according to TyreSafe’s recent Tread Depth survey, meaning many drivers risk three penalty points and a fine, which can be up to a maximum of £2,500, for each defective or illegal tyre. As well as the risks posed by illegal tread on tyres, almost 542,287 drivers are just two tyres away from an automatic driving ban and almost 100,000 who have nine points are just a single tyre away, according to a recent IAM RoadSmart report. These numbers have risen recently – the number of drivers with nine points on their licence has risen 8 per cent in the last year – indicating an urgent need for drivers to pay closer attention to road safety both in their driving behaviour and attention to vehicle maintenance.

TyreSafe, the UK tyre safety charity, has partnered with road safety charity, Brake for Road Safety Week 2023. TyreSafe said the partnership aims to support Brake’s ‘Let’s talk about speed’ campaign. It focuses on demystifying and challenging drivers and passengers to be open and honest about issues related to speeding. The national Road Safety Week campaign began on 19 November. TyreSafe describes it as a significant platform to raise awareness about the critical importance of safe driving practices and the devastating consequences of speeding. Brake’s 2023 campaign highlights the serious and very real hazards and risks associated with driving too fast and on defective tyres.

52% of all UK driving tests result in failure, but there are a wide variety of reasons for these failures. The test can be an intimidating prospect for new drivers, and around one in ten unsuccessful learners say that nerves and stress were the main factor in their downfall. Though with 12% of assessments requiring the physical intervention of the examiner to avert a risky situation, issues of competence certainly play a role too. The online car sales platform cinch has researched the top reasons for failing driving tests, offering expert advice on how to avoid these common errors.    

Bridgestone spread the tyre safety message to hundreds of motorists in October at two events. The tyre manufacturer conducted free tyre safety checks and distributed informational postcards at Roadchef’s Norton Canes Services on the M6 Toll in Staffordshire on 19 October, and at Ireland’s Japfest in Mondello Park, where it encouraged young drivers to get into the habit of checking their tyres regularly. The postcards were designed to emphasise the importance of checking tyres and highlight that each vehicle has only four contact patches with the road and they featured safety tips and maintenance advice for future reference.

TyreSafe supported Sophie Lyden from Westgate Tyres at the Safe Street event on 22 October. Held at the Morecambe FC ground, the event was the result of a collaboration between several road safety stakeholders. It was organised by FreshDriversUK and Racing4RoadSafety, with contributions from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), Lancashire Police, Lancashire County Council Road Safety Team, National Highways, tyre wholesaler Bond International, Westcotec and more, as well as local independent tyre retailer Westgate Tyres. All participants demonstrated their commitment to enhancing road safety within the community.

Tyre safety organisation TyreSafe has unveiled a collaborative initiative with Operation Pennine promoting road safety through vital vehicle checks and awareness campaigns on key road links between the North-West and North-East of England, kicking off with events at Ferrybridge Services (3 October) and Hartshead Services (5 October) on the M62. TyreSafe is playing a crucial role in supporting Operation Pennine, underscoring the importance of maintaining roadworthy tyres to ensure safe journeys. TyreSafe member Micheldever Tyre Services and retail network Protyre are supporting the events, providing tyre guidance, checks and advice.