road safety

A joint study by The AA and TyreSafe, surveying over 22,000 UK drivers in May and July 2025, reveals a troubling lack of tyre safety awareness and poor maintenance habits. 61 per cent of respondents were unaware that driving on an illegal tyre could incur a fine of £2,500 per tyre, and 45 per cent did not know that each illegal tyre carries three penalty points: therefore, four illegal tyres could result in a driving ban. Only 65 per cent correctly identified the driver as legally responsible for tyre safety, while 34 per cent mistakenly believed it was the car owner.

Two major organisations in the UK tyre industry, TyreSafe and the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA), have announced a new partnership aimed at improving road safety and raising awareness about tyre care. TyreSafe is a charity focused on tyre safety, while the NTDA represents more than 300 tyre businesses - accounting for around 2,000 points of sale - across the country.

TyreSafe is warning that just two illegal tyres could cost new drivers their licence in its new flagship Young Driver Campaign. The campaign coincides with the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Operation Spotlight – a nationwide road safety operation targeting young drivers – running from 22 September to 5 October. The simple core message is that driving with unsafe or illegal tyres carries fines of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per tyre. For new drivers in their first two years on the road the six penalty points accrued for two unsafe tyres is enough for an automatic licence revocation.

UK tyre brand Davanti Tyres is encouraging drivers not to get complacent in checking the basic elements of a car, including tyres, as the weather turns autumnal. It says that many drivers rely on advanced safety features, like anti-lock braking and tyre pressure monitoring systems, to stay safe on the road. However, regular manual tyre checks remain essential for ensuring safety and legal compliance. As part of Tyre Safety Month, Davanti shares simple yet crucial tyre care tips to help motorists maintain tyre health and drive safely.

With just 39 per cent of UK drivers aware that the minimum legal tyre tread depth is 1.6mm, Hankook has published six safety tips designed to help you understand some of the most important tyre facts. “Understanding tyre terminology might seem daunting at first, but it can make a big difference in maintaining safer vehicles, cutting unnecessary running costs, and making informed decisions when purchasing or replacing tyres”, explained Mark Eatwell, Technical Services Manager at Hankook Tyre UK.

Parents taking to the school run next week should first carry out vital tyre checks to keep their families safe. Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone warns that its latest research shows 63% of motorists will wait until their car fails its MOT before replacing tyres. Meanwhile 11% admit to driving on bald, illegal tyres before replacing them. With millions of parents set to take their children to and from the school gates next week, Bridgestone says the time is right to uncover this often-hidden danger. More information on how to keep your tyres safe is available on Bridgestone's website.

Marking Diabetes Awareness Week with an important road safety message TyreSafe and the Diabetes Safety Organisation (DSO) have officially launched the ‘Tread Safely’ campaign, a new initiative designed to raise awareness of the increased road risks faced by people living with diabetes—particularly those affected by Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN).

With the winter weather now in full swing, Kumho is adding its voice to calls for motorists to ensure their vehicles are equipped with tyres to handle the harsh conditions of the season. The colder months bring freezing temperatures, prolonged wet weather and the risk of snow, which make tyre safety even more crucial. Ensuring vehicles are fitted with tyres which are capable of providing optimal traction, excellent wet handling and superior durability can be the difference between a safe journey and a hazardous one.

Between November 2023 and February 2024, there were total of 90,852 breakdowns on British roads – an 11.3 per cent increase from the same period a year before (81,617 total). Of these, tyres have been reported as the most common cause of winter breakdowns (November to February) in the UK for three years running.