DfT: defective tyres contribute to more than 1,200 road casualties

The Department for Transport (DfT) revealed yesterday that illegal, defective and under-inflated tyres were responsible for more than 1,210 road casualties in Great Britain during 2010. The latest Road Casualties in Great Britain report shows that 18 motorists were killed during the year from defective tyres, bringing the number of tyre related deaths on UK roads in the last five years to 164.

“The latest figures are truly shocking and emphasise why we need ongoing action, education and awareness about tyre safety issues,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “Making sure that your tyres are safe and legal is a quick and easy job, yet we still see hundreds of accidents occurring each year because drivers don’t make these essential safety checks.” October is the month for TyreSafe’s annual month-long safety campaign for passenger cars. As part of the campaign, drivers will be able to have a free tyre safety check at one of the hundreds of garages and tyre dealers that are taking part.

“If all drivers took just a few minutes every month to check their tyre pressures, condition and tread depth, we could help prevent this needless injury and loss of life,” continues Jackson. “Our website contains some really simple guides to help drivers understand what to look for. But if they still find this confusing or don’t have the time or confidence to do this for themselves, they simply need to visit their local tyre dealer who will be more than happy to make sure their tyres are safe and legal.”

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