30% of cars in Shropshire school-run sample had illegal tyres

TyreSafe is promoting tyre safety on the school run following research carried out by one of its members, which found that more than 30 per cent of cars dropping off children at one Shropshire primary school were fitted with illegal tyres.

“The start of the new academic year means that we will be experiencing many more cars on the roads, particularly at peak times of the day,” comments Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “Many of these cars may be used less frequently so it’s essential that their tyres are checked to ensure that they are roadworthy and legal so that the precious load is transported in a safe manner.”

According to the charity Sustrans, more than 11 million car journeys are made between home and school every day. Meanwhile figures from the Department for Transport show that more than 1,200 road casualties are caused each year as a result of a car travelling on illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres.

Ahead of the return to school, TyreSafe is encouraging parents to check three key areas of their tyres. Tyres pressures, tread depths (complete with the reminder that motorists risk a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre) and finally, the general condition of the tyres ensuring they are free from lumps, cuts and bulges.

“Dropping children off at the school gates can be a particularly tough job for tyres with issues such as repeated kerb strikes to deal with,” concludes Jackson. “Making these vital safety checks only takes a couple of moments but could make the world of difference to the safety of you and your children. Of course, this isn’t just a one time job; it’s something that we all should be doing on an ongoing basis at least once a month.”