Tyre survey presents ‘golden opportunity to inform future safety policy’ – TyreSafe

The first phase of its tyre survey produced “startling results”, says TyreSafe, and therefore the organisation is asking all replacement tyre points of sale to support an even larger and more comprehensive second round. Once again, TyreSafe will carry out the survey in partnership with Highways England, and the aim of this second round is to build on the already sizable first round sample in order to offer greater insight into the condition of the nation’s tyres. Data collation will begin on 1 October and the results will provide intelligence-led information to inform future tyre safety policy.

“The industry has been saying for many years that there is an issue with the consumer’s attitude towards tyre safety as we see a worryingly high proportion of dangerous, defective and illegal tyres fitted to vehicles on a daily basis,” comments TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson. “What was needed was evidence to support that belief and the first phase of the TyreSafe survey provided that with confirmation that up to 10 million illegal tyres could be on Britain’s roads in 2015 alone. What we need to do now is build on that first phase and compile an even greater body of evidence.

“TyreSafe calls on all tyre replacement outlets to participate in what is a golden opportunity for the industry to inform future road safety policy,” added Jackson.

TyreSafe would like all retailers who can provide accurate data – even those who are not TyreSafe members – to participate in the initiative. All that is required is for retailers to complete a sheet on a weekly or monthly basis detailing the whether the car or LCV tyres replaced were below 1.6mm; between 1.6mm and 2mm; or above 2mm. TyreSafe will provide all participants with the template and any needed support.

Those wishing to participate are requested to contact theteam@tyresafe.org (or call 01787 221027). More information on the first phase of the TyreSafe tread depth survey can be found at www.tyresafe.org; the headline news from the first round include was that more than 27 per cent of the more than 100,000 car and light commercial vehicle tyres checked had an illegal tread depth of less than 1.6mm at the time they were replaced, and nearly 40 per cent had a ‘borderline’ tread depth of between 1.6mm and 2.0mm.