Tyre Safety Month
Friday, 30 September 2022
October is Tyre Safety Month
Check your tyre pressures regularly. Or pop into your nearest branch of Fife Autocentre for assistance.
Visit TyreSafe.org for information and advice on tyre safety.
If your tyres don’t stop you, what will? asks TyreSaf
- Tyre Safety Month starts on the 1st October
- DfT figures show 153 people are killed or seriously injured due to tyre-related incidents annually
- Tyres determine how well a vehicle accelerates, brakes and steers
Much of everyday life is dedicated to avoiding risk and making adequate preparations. But, tyres are all too often overlooked even though they may be the decisive factor in whether an incident can be avoided or not.
Latest figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show that 153 people are killed or seriously injured in incidents related to tyre defects, underlining the potential risks of skipping tyre checks.
TyreSafe has also highlighted the tragic case of Megan Byrne, who was just 22 years old when she lost control of her car due to underinflated tyres. Despite her best efforts, she collided with a car coming in the opposite direction and died at the scene. Police collision investigators confirmed that Megan and the driver she collided with were both driving within the speed limit and wearing a seat belt at the time – it was her tyres’ condition that was the major contributory factor in the tragic outcome.
As part of this year’s Tyre Safety Month, TyreSafe is asking drivers to once again consider the potential risks involved in not carrying out vital checks on their tyres.
The question If your tyres don’t stop you, what will? not only reminds the motorist of the benefits and importance of tyre checks but also carries the literal message that, as the only point of contact between the road and the vehicle, it is tyres which are crucial for safe and effective braking and cornering.
To educate drivers on the importance and benefits of tyre safety, TyreSafe has developed impactful depictions of scenarios which highlight the potential risk of driving on defective tyres.
The campaign incorporates the powerful acronym ‘ACT – Air pressure, Condition, Tread’ to further imprint the three elements of basic tyre safety checks on the driver into all video and printed assets.
Air Pressure – correct tyre pressures are shown on a sticker in your car’s door shut, filler cap or in the owner’s manual. Use an accurate pressure gauge to ensure they are right for the load as part of your pre-journey planning
Condition – if stones or other objects caught between grooves in the tread can be removed without damaging the tyre, drivers are advised to do so. Bulges, cracks, cuts and embedded objects are cause for concern and need to be checked by a professional
Tread – if you don’t have access to an accurate tread depth gauge, a 20p coin can be used to see if your tyres’ tread depths are approaching the 1.6mm minimum limit. Insert the 20p at several points across and around each tyre. If you can see the coin’s outer rim at any point the tyre may be illegal and you should seek advice from a professional.
