95% of tyre centres keeping some or all Covid-19 measures

Data in the NTDA’s “Keeping Tyre Centres Safe” report shows that 95 per cent of tyre centres keeping some or all Covid-19 measures. Providing useful insights into consumer and retail thinking on the subject, the NTDA report highlights that: two-thirds of drivers are concerned about Covid-19 restrictions being lifted (this trend was most noticeable in Scotland where the figure was 69 per cent); that the majority “want to see safety measures REMAIN in tyre centres”; and that “63 per cent of the nations’ drivers would be more likely to choose (and 65 per cent more likely to trust) a tyre centre that continues to enforce safety measures”.

NTDA member businesses are responding in line with the majority of motorists, with no NTDA member intending to remove all is restrictions immediately. Indeed, 31 per cent will not remove any restrictions at all.

89 per cent believe maintaining some social distancing measures will help to reassure their employees post 19 July. And three-quarters of all members have put their employees’ health and wellbeing as the most important priority once Covid restrictions are removed.

66 per cent of motorists would feel safer in tyre centres that keep measures

As we have seen, (63 per cent) of UK drivers would still like to see safety measures in tyre centres after the government lifts its legal measures on 19 July. Indeed, 66 per cent say they would feel safer in tyre centres that continued to enforce safety measures.

A strong majority of UK drivers said it is important to them that hand sanitiser remains available (86%), followed by masks to be worn (79%) and having a limit on the number of people who can enter the centre (77%).

At the same time, 80 per cent of respondents said they understand that tyre retailers have a responsibility to protect their staff from Covid-19 at the same time.

63 per cent of drivers say that they would be more likely to choose a tyre centre that keeps safety measures in place. Within this figure, 68 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds and 78 per cent of those in London said they were more likely to choose a tyre centre that keeps safety measures in place.

65 per cent of UK drivers would also be more likely to trust a tyre centre if it continued to enforce safety measures. Londoners were emphatic, with 76 per cent stating they ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ with this statement. Indeed, 64 per cent of respondents said they would like mask-wearing to be compulsory in shops and on public transport “until coronavirus is under control worldwide”.

With all this in mind, it is no surprise to learn that 95 per cent of NTDA members are keeping some or all of their Covid-19 security measures. This appears to be with both customer and staff wellbeing in mind, with 90 per cent of NTDA members saying they “believe keeping some social distancing measures will reassure staff that the workplace is safe”. Continuing the renewed emphasis on wellbeing, “95 per cent of respondents stated that they will now devote more time to boosting their workforce’s wellbeing as a result of the pandemic”.

The NTDA-commissioned independent research was conducted between 2 and 14 July 2021 and surveyed a sample of 2000 motorists, suggesting it is both up-to-date and representative.