3,852 tyre-related motorway incidents in 2013 Q2: IAM

The Institute of Advanced Motorists has issued a tyre maintenance warning to UK drivers after a total of 3,852 tyre-related incidents were reported on England's motorways between April and the end of June 2013. This average of 1,284 per month is a result of motorists often putting off tyre repairs to save on costs, IAM says, though it is actually cheaper to replace worn or damaged tyres where necessary, rather than waiting to face a burst tyre and having to be towed off the motorway.

As part of its Motorway Month campaign, the IAM offers the PACT – standing for Performance, Air Pressure, Condition and Tread depth – advice for motorists on how to keep their tyres in check. IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “Regular tyre checks are the best way to keep on top of maintenance and avoid those nasty surprises both to your vehicle and to your wallet.

But one day you could become one of the thousands unlucky enough to experience a tyre-related breakdown, so having a dry-run of changing your tyre at home can prove very useful and will mean you needn’t rely so heavily on breakdown services, getting you back on the road quicker.”

Incidents contribute to delays which cost the economy billions of pounds each year. According to the Highways Agency’s national satisfaction survey, carried out between April 2012 and the end of March 2013, only 53 per cent of respondents say they regularly check their tyre pressure.

Stuart Lovatt from the Highways Agency said: “Nobody wants to start their holiday off by having a breakdown that leads to them having to extend their journey time. By checking that tyres are still in good condition, drivers are helping to avoid incidents and the risk of delays, not only to their own journey but to those of other drivers.”

The IAM’s message coincides with the annual media briefing from TyreSafe, reported yesterday by Tyrepress.com.