Defective tyres lead to millions of MOT failures
Friday, 17 October 2014
New figures obtained under a Freedom of Information request have
revealed that millions of drivers are placing themselves and other road
users in unnecessary danger by driving on unsafe or illegal tyres.
According to data supplied by the Driver & Vehicle Standards
Agency, more than 2.2 million cars failed their annual MOT test in 2013
because of the state of their tyres.
“It beggars belief that so many motorists can fail their MOT because of
unsafe or illegal tyres,” comments Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe.
“Your safety on the road is totally dependent upon the condition of your
tyres so it’s vital that you check these regularly throughout the year,
let alone just before you take your MOT. Furthermore, they are also one
of the easiest items on your car to check, so there really is no excuse
for this amount of tyre related failures.”
Reinforcing the scale of the problem of dangerous and illegal tyres,
recent figures released by the Department for Transport showed that more
than 968 road casualties were caused in the UK in 2013 because of an
accident involving illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres.
However, to help drivers understand the importance of making regular
tyre safety checks and identifying what to look for, thousands of
garages and tyre dealers across the country are offering free tyre
safety checks as part of October’s Tyre Safety Month. Locations of
participating outlets can be found by entering your postcode into the
dealer locator on www.tyresafe.org.
“We are entering the most treacherous period of the year when the roads
can become very wet and slippery so it’s essential that your tyres are
in the best possible condition,” continues Jackson. “Driving on
dangerous or illegal tyres can leave you vulnerable to a number of
hazards such as longer stopping distances, loss of grip or an increased
risk of aquaplaning but these can all be minimised with appropriate
safety checks.”
To help drivers improve their safety on the road, TyreSafe recommends
that drivers carry out three key safety checks at least once a month.
Firstly, tyre pressures should be checked to ensure they are in line
with the vehicle manufacturers recommended settings. Tyre tread depths
should also be examined to ensure they are well above the legal minimum
of 1.6mm. Finally, the tyre should be given a thorough visual inspection
to ensure it is free from cuts, lumps or bulges and there are no items
embedded in the tread.
Drivers looking for more information about how to check their tyres
themselves or to find the location of their nearest fitting centre
offering free tyre safety checks should visit www.tyresafe.org.
Article taken from the Driving Instructor Association website. www.driving.org