HiQ offers free winter safety checks
Fast fit franchise HiQ has announced that it will give free winter safety checks to motorists, prompted by Department for Transport figures indicating a three per cent increase in road accidents resultant from slippery road conditions caused by bad weather in the last five years. The free comprehensive vehicle inspections will be available at all of HiQ’s 150 centres. HiQ fast fit manager Stuart Carr says that the franchise believes winter tyres are “absolutely essential when travelling safely during the inevitable freezing temperatures.”
In the annual summary of reported road casualties in 2010, it is revealed that 17 per cent of all road accidents named road environment as a contributing factor and of that, 12 per cent were down to slippery road conditions. Slippery roads caused over 20,000 road casualties leading to death, serious or slight injuries in 2010, with a quarter of those admitting to losing control of the vehicle which resulted in the accident.
Carr commented: “The tread compound in winter weather tyres contains more natural rubber to minimise the hardening effect, giving them extra grip in cold, wet and icy conditions. This means that with winter weather tyres you will experience significantly shorter stopping distances. Today’s winter weather tyres are just as quiet and comfortable as normal tyres and we will be stocking them across our centres…”
In addition to tyres, winter’s demands of drivers and their vehicles will be taken into account during HiQ inspections. Brakes, visibility, steering and batteries are all subject to heavier use. In addition to tyres, the eight point winter health check covers: battery checks and grease terminal cleaning; the condition of windscreen wipers, washers and headlamps; lights and horns; the engine oil and filter; the condition of the exhaust; the fan belt; and the coolant hose, radiators and connections.
Tyresafe chairman Stuart Jackson backed HiQ’s winter message, after independent research commissioned by the organisation revealed that more than half of UK motorists felt less safe when driving in the winter: “Their biggest worry is that they will be involved in more accidents as the roads feel more slippery. With their additional levels of grip, winter weather tyres could allay this fear for many drivers.”
Related news:
- Citroën the next car manufacturer to offer winter tyre programme
- Peugeot UK launches winter tyre scheme
- New online tyre and wheel retailer joins TyreSafe
- Tyresafe chairman makes One Show appearance marking Tyre safety month
- Tyre convictions at a four year high
Comments