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

The answer to Thursdays theory question is:

Pull into a side road to turn around.

 
Today's theory question is:

The fluid in your battery can be topped up with

• Battery acid
• Distilled water
• Engine oil
• Engine coolant

Drivers favour motorway tests

Friday, 10 October 2014

More than half of drivers support the introduction of mandatory motorway driving tests.
A survey for car leasing company Flexed.co.uk found that 52% of motorists believed that all drivers should have to pass a motorway driving assessment before being allowed on them.
Meanwhile, 70% of drivers between 17 and 24 wanted the introduction of a motorway driving test for all drivers.
Forty-one per cent of male motorists surveyed wanted the introduction of a motorway-driving test for all drivers compared with 64% of women motorists.
Alex Wignall, customer care at Flexed.co.uk said: “I think there has been a consensus amongst motorists for a long time that drivers should have to pass a test to drive on the motorway.
“There are too many drivers of all ages who are inexperienced on motorways and are not familiar with the important differences which separate it from other types of driving.”

Article for the Diving Instructor Association. www.driving.org

The answer to the last theory question is:

The national speed limit for cars and motorcycles on the motorway is 70 mph.

Today's theory question is:

You are driving on a busy main road and find that you are somehow travelling in the wrong direction, what do you do?

• Quickly u-turn
• Do a handbrake turn
• Stop the oncoming traffic and perform a 3 point turn
• Pull into a side road to turn around

The answer to yesterday's theory question is:

• The stopping distance is doubled.

Today's question is:

What is the national speed limit on motorways for cars and motorcycles?

• 30 mph
• 50 mph
• 60 mph
• 70 mph

 The answers to Fridays theory questions were:  

A provisional licence holder can not drive:

• on their own  
• on the motorway

Today's theory question is:

When travelling in heavy rain, your overall stopping distance is likely to be?

• doubled
• quadrupled
• twelve times greater
• the same as in the dry

Today one of my pupils took their driving test. This is always a nerve racking time for both my pupil taking their test but also for myself as I  want them to do well and pass first time. I still remember taking my test many years ago and how nervous I was so I know how they feel!
Just to add to my anxiety, my pupil decided he wanted me to sit in on the test. This is fine and I'm always more than happy to go on the test if my pupils want me to. If they don't pass, it is useful to have seen what went wrong first hand so I can help them to improve for their next test, however it is not the most relaxing experience sitting in the back of the car watching your pupil on test hoping that they will deal with each situation you see coming as well as you know they can.
My pupil drove very well throughout the test and completed the left reverse manouvre, which was one that he had said he hoped he didn't get, with relative ease. He went on to the independant driving section of the test where he was asked to follow severeal different signs throughout the 10 minutes. He showed good progress when he overtook several vehicles on the dual carriageway.
I was very pleased to hear that he had passed when we got back to the test centre, so big congratuations!
Now all that's left for me to do with him is some motorway training and wish him all the best with his driving from this point forward.