Michelin UK sites mark UN Road Safety launch with beer goggles and tyre checks

Employees at Michelin's three UK sites put on beer goggles in a drink driving simulation, heard the results of a hidden speed camera exercise and enjoyed free tyre checks to mark the launch of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety initiative.

Staff at Michelin’s Stoke-on-Trent site got the opportunity on Wednesday 11 May to experience the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol via the combination of a Mario Cart Wii driving game simulator and a special pair of 'beer goggles' provided by Staffordshire County Council's road safety department.

Further north at Michelin’s Dundee factory on the same day, the official car of the Lord Provost John Letford was the first vehicle to be checked using the new Bib Gonfleur airline. In the shape of the famous Michelin Man, the new Bib Gonfleur airline will now be available for free public use on an ongoing basis.

In Northern Ireland at Michelin’s Ballymena site, employees took the chance to get back into the classroom as they endured the rigours of the official driving theory test. An experienced team of tyre technicians from the Ballymena site also carried out comprehensive tyre assessments on all vehicles parked in the factory car park that day.

Eric Le Corre, Michelin UK’s managing director said: “The UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety initiative is about all governments, agencies, organisations and companies like Michelin working towards a common goal of saving lives and making roads safer. “By holding events such as this with employees, we can help communicate the road safety message and get our employees to think about the actions and decisions they can take personally to minimise the risk of serious accident and encourage safer driving.”

Endorsed through the United Nations Road Safety collaboration – of which the Michelin Group is one of four global private sector partners – the UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety will see the launch of national road safety plans by various governments worldwide as part of the global roll-out of the initiative. The frameworks to be implemented by countries and communities have been developed to help increase action to save lives on the world’s roads.