Highways Agency wins TyreSafe ‘Outstanding Contribution award

The Highways Agency took top honours at the recent TyreSafe awards for its efforts in raising public awareness of tyre safety issues. The ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award was presented as part of the first ever TyreSafe Awards, which celebrated the activities and achievements of a wide range of businesses and organisations in encouraging better tyre care and maintenance. It seems the introduction of the “Safe Tyres Save Lives” message on motorway matrix signs across the UK made a real impact.

“Tyre safety remains a serious concern in the UK, but on our own, we can only achieve so much,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “The work of our partners and members really brings to life what we do and today’s awards is just a small way of acknowledging and sharing this. The Highways Agency is a thoroughly deserved winner of our principal award after such a fantastic couple of years supporting us, which has ensured that tyre safety is very firmly established and represented on the road safety agenda at the very highest levels.”

This year tyre safety has become one of the key priorities for the Agency. A number of high profile initiatives it developed helped to significantly raise the profile and promote understanding of about the importance of regular tyre care and maintenance. Tyre related safety messages placed for the first time on variable message signs around the UK’s strategic road network, CCTV clips of tyre related incidents posted on social media sites and an educational animation were all among the work delivered.

In addition, eight other awards were presented covering a range of categories ranging from vehicle manufacturers to safety in the community.

“Judging the awards entries gave us an enormous feeling of pride,” continues Jackson. “Our partners have been working extremely hard with some amazing levels of creativity to capture the imagination and attention of the motoring public. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of our winners and thank every single person who either entered the awards or has supported us in our efforts. We look forward to working together closely into the future.”

The full list of winners at the 2013 TyreSafe Awards is:

• Tyre manufacturer – Giti Tyre (UK) Ltd

• Tyre retailer – Micheldever Tyre Services / Protyre

• Franchise dealer – HiQ

• Independent garage – Jeff Fowkes Wheels Ltd

• Vehicle manufacturer – Ford

• Emergency services – Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

• Safety in the community – Bedfordshire and Luton Casualty Reduction Partnership

• Champion of innovation – Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership

• Outstanding contribution – Highways Agency