Tyred Campaign wins widespread support in first 3 months

In the three months since the Tyred Campaign for a ban of all tyres older than ten years on all commercial vehicles launched, support has been forthcoming from a broad base of sources. Powerful and influential people in business and politics getting behind Tyred include Maria Eagle MP; Steve Rotherham, Liverpool Metro Mayor; Stefan Hay, CEO – National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA); and Vinay Parmar, executive director of National Express Coaches.

Frances Molloy, the spearhead of Tyred, has campaigned for a number of years for aged tyre legislation following the death of her son Michael (18), Kerry Ogden (23) and Driver Colin Daulby (53) in a coach crash caused by the failure of a second-hand 20 year old tyre. She adds that there have been a significant number of very positive developments in these three months, including local authorities deciding to put forward motions at full council meetings supporting legislation.

Another major coach operator – The Big Green Coach Company – has joined National Express in backing the campaign, while MerseyTravel, the executive body responsible for coach and bus travel facilities throughout Liverpool and Merseyside, has signed a voluntary contract confirming they will no longer have tyres older than ten years on any of their vehicle fleets.

Liverpool bus fleets will no longer have tyres older than ten years on any of their vehicles

Molloy says: “Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham instigated this major development and it was encouraging that he was met with an ‘open door’ attitude and willingness to join our fight against aging commercial tyres. This success has inspired the campaign to approach other Metro Mayors in major cities including Andy Burnham, Metro Mayor of Greater Manchester who has already publicly pledges his support. I was also invited to speak at the TMB Union’s Justice Campaign Conference in September who have been extremely supportive and instrumental in our approach to various councils to back Tyred”

In addition, Molloy attended the Labour Party Conference in Brighton and spoke at a fringe event which resulted in the leader of Harrow Council in London agreeing to put forward a motion to his council. At the same time she met Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who reinforced the party’s support for the Tyred Campaign.

The campaign team led by Liverpool based marketing specialists Agent Marketing has worked constantly to promote the Tyred message from every Social media angle including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and the Tyred Website. They have also had positive conversations with several Conservative politicians who have expressed their support. Consequently a growing number of people and organisations are approaching Tyred.

Molloy concludes: “It is becoming increasingly clear that it’s not a question of ‘If’ a Government Bill banning tyres over ten years old being fitting on all commercial vehicles will come into force, but when! I am not going to rest until the Tyred Campaign is successful and tyres that are over ten years old are banned from our roads.”