TyreSafe celebrates five years of motorist education

It’s now half a decade since TyreSafe first set out to improve safety on UK roads. The 2006-established organisation is celebrating its fifth anniversary, and upon reaching this milestone can reflect with pride that, during the years it has contributed to public awareness on tyre safety, the number of motorists (as reported by DfT figures) killed or seriously injured in tyre related accidents has dropped 38 per cent.

“There’s no doubt that TyreSafe has made a huge contribution towards improving drivers’ attitudes and behaviour towards tyre care and maintenance,” commented TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson. “As an organisation we’ve been incredibly busy and proactive over the last five years, but it’s important to note that we’ve also received fantastic support from many other organisations that has been critical in helping us educate people and raise standards.”

TyreSafe started life with just 12 member companies, and all were either tyre manufacturers or retailers. Since then the organisation has grown considerably and now boasts 35 members, including many vehicle manufacturers, associated equipment suppliers as well as other influential bodies involved in road safety such as the Highways Agency, the Chief Fire Officers Association and the Driving Standards Agency.

The organisation’s early campaigns focused entirely on educating car drivers but with its growing membership and reputation, the group has expanded its campaigns and now targets many different groups including motorcyclists, van and truck users, caravanners and more recently, horsebox and trailer owners. It has also taken a lead role in campaigning on other key issues such as part-worn and winter tyres.

Its focus on end-users means TyreSafe has needed to continue developing innovative and fresh ways to communicate tyre safety messages. In recent years these have included the 20p test that helps drivers check their tread depth, an iPhone tyre pressure App as well as a number of online safety movies, taking advantage of the dramatic increase in online and social media.

Such has been the success of initiatives like these that TyreSafe has received significant media coverage, including several national television appearances and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. Indeed, TyreSafe was recently named in The Daily Telegraph’s list of 30 best motoring Apps. Alongside such media achievements and accolades, TyreSafe received a major boost in 2009 when it was awarded a prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award, for its tyre safety campaigning.

“Despite the many positives and achievements during our short history, there is still a huge amount of work for us to do as an organisation and as an industry,” Jackson added. “There are still high levels of ignorance and neglect about many tyre safety issues so it’s vitally important that we ramp up our activities even further during the next five years. However, at this important milestone I would like to offer our sincere thanks to everyone who has helped and supported us during our first five years and we look forward to working closely with you during the next five.”

Any organisation interested in learning more about tyre safety or about becoming a member of the group can visit www.tyresafe.org or call 01787 226995.