Van tyre defects on the rise, says VOSA report

The results of the latest VOSA effectiveness report have come to TyreSafe’s attention and the tyre safety organisation is not impressed with the attention van drivers are paying to their tyres. The report, TyreSafe comments, shows that ‘condition of tyres’ remains the most frequent prohibition defect at spot checks on light goods vehicles across the country, and the incidence rate is increasing; in 2007/08 and 2008/09 it sat at 20 per cent but rose to just under 26 per cent in 2009/10.

“Van tyres lead a particularly hard life so it is critical that operators regularly check the condition of their tyres for signs of damage or premature and uneven wear,” explained TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson. “Building site debris or regular scuffing on kerbs during delivery drops can cause significant damage to tyres. If left unchecked, they may fail at a critical moment, risking serious injury for the driver and other road users.”

TyreSafe points out that responsibility for the condition of tyres on light commercial vehicle lies both with the business that owns the van and the van’s driver. Penalties for driving on illegal tyres include a personal fine of £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre. Business owners are obliged to provide their employees with a safe working environment, which includes the provision of safe and roadworthy vehicles, and thus are open to fines of up to £20,000 if the fail to do this. In addition to risking a fine, business owners are faced with additional costs when tyres are not properly cared for – under-inflated tyres wear out quicker while reducing fuel economy, and any downtime a vehicle experienced due to tyre failure is time it is not earning money.

“This rising trend of tyre related prohibition defects is extremely worrying,” Jackson continued. “I would urge all businesses, large or small, that operate vans and other light commercial vehicles to ensure they have robust procedures in place to regularly check the condition of their fleet’s tyres.” To help businesses and van users understand their responsibilities towards tyre care and the key tyre safety issues they need to consider, TyreSafe has launched a new dedicated van tyre safety section on its tyresafe.org website. The site includes a selection of useful tips and guides as well as a free downloadable safety leaflet.