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Garages and Vehicle Main Dealers Support Tyre Safety Month

Tyre Safety Month launched today with national backing from Motor Codes and its nationwide network of 6,500 garages along vehicle main dealers of the four Fiat Group brands. Fiat Group Automobiles UK announced that Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Fiat and Fiat Professional will promote the importance of correct tyre care and maintenance across their 328-strong, UK retail and service networks. The Fiat Group’s support will begin by offering drivers free tyre safety checks at its dealerships during tyre safety month.

1st October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

TyreSafe Releases Video to Illustrate Tyre Test Simplicity

With October’s Tyre Safety Month of October upon us, the organisation behind the initiative, TyreSafe has released a campaign video stressing the simplicity of testing the suitability of tyres. The video, posted on YouTube and embedded in the page below, features 7 year-old faux-mechanics Kyanne and Finlay showing drivers how simple it is to check their tyre tread depth with a 20p coin. The organisation also states that Department for Transport figures published in its latest road casualty report show that more than 200 people were killed or seriously injured (KSI) in the UK in 2009 as a result of an accident where illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres were a contributory factor.

29th September 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

IAAF Questions Need for MOT test Change

The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has added its to the growing number of voices questioning the need to alter MOT frequency requirements. For its part the IAAF has written what it describes as a “strongly worded letter” to Transport Minister Michael Penning expressing surprise at the government’s decision to review the MOT test.The review is scheduled for later in the year. Transport Department whip Earl Atlee told the House of Lords in July “we intend to look at the issue of MOT frequencies later this year.”

8th September 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Roadsafe: MOT Must Stay Annual

RoadSafe is urging transport minister Mike Penning, to maintain the MOT test as an annual check-up for vehicles. In 2008, the Department for Transport said the MOT failure rate was high, at 35 per cent. Between 2009 and 10, the failure rate continued its steady increase to 37 per cent. Despite this, the DfT is looking into reducing the required frequency of tests to fall in line with Europe.

In the UK, vehicles must have their first test within three years of registration, and annual tests thereafter. As a minimum, EU law requires vehicles to have their first test when they are four years old and subsequent tests every two years. Most European countries follow the EU minimum requirement and there is pressure on the UK to do the same. RoadSafe is warning that this will lead to more crashes, caused by poorly maintained vehicles.

31st August 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

MOT Rule Change Could Risk Lives

Following the recent news that Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore called on the Department for Transport (DfT) to pay more attention to tyre age during MOT inspections, the NTDA has reported that it has also written to DfT on the subject of statutory testing. While not on the subject of tyre ageing, the NTDA’s letter referred to the fact that some quarters are suggesting that the currently annual mandatory roadworthiness test be made a bi-annual requirement. The DfT’s mailbag is set to get fatter still when Tyre Industry Federation (TIF) are reportedly due to put pen to paper on the subject as well. According to the latest NTDA e-zine email newsletter, the NTDA raised the matter at last month's TIF board meeting. A template is reportedly available for members who wish to make their own views felt on this very safety critical subject.

2nd August 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Should VOSA Call Time on Old Tyres?

Editorial/Comment

The news that Alan Crickmore, a Gloucestershire coroner has written to the Secretary of State for Transport (Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP) calling for a ban on vehicle tyres that are more than 10 years old lends new support to a cause that has been a topic of discussion within the industry for some time. The case Crickmore referred to was the death of Nazma Shaheen, whose Toyota Lucida was travelling northbound along the M5 when a tyre burst and the car clipped a kerb and rolled over, throwing Mrs Shaheen clear of the vehicle on 6 May 2009. Tyre age was said to have precipitated the accident. What stood out for me the first time I read about this case, apart from the tragic circumstances that initially caused the coroner’s involvement, was the fact that this was the first time that a completely non tyre-related party has publically called for an overhaul of the tyre aging rules.

27th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Tests: Bad Aftermarket Exhausts Markedly Increase Pollution

Shocking results from one of Europe’s foremost vehicle emissions testing labs have revealed shortcomings in some (legal) replacement exhaust systems. The results show 20 times the level of harmful Nitrogen Dioxide and 50 per cent higher levels of damaging Hydrocarbons being emitted by non Type-approved exhausts, leading to calls from manufacturers such as Klarius for type approval to become mandatory in the UK, as it already is in Europe.

Extensive testing by Longbridge-based Emission Test Facility UK has called the quality of construction, design and materials used in exhaust pipe make-up into question. Emission Test Facility UK’s directors and testers, Tim Colgan and Graham Downing, tested a selection of non Type-approved exhaust systems against an original manufacturers unit and a fully Type-approved replacement model.

21st May 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

New Vehicle Registrations Show Continued Growth

Department for Transport figures published on 6 May suggest that the growth in first-time UK vehicle registrations continued to grow in March 2010, with a 23.1 per cent year-on-year rise in vehicles registered in the month. 455.5 thousand vehicles of all types were registered in March 2010, compared with 370.1 thousand in March 2009. While this represents a palpable rise in line with year-on-year figures over the last six months, sales are still down on pre-recession figures; 535.6 thousand vehicles were registered in March 2008.

6th May 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

S-mark Enforcement to Begin on 23 March 2010

Enforcement of the European s-mark legislation that took effect in October 2009 is set to begin in the UK on 23 March. From this date onwards anyone selling tyres not in compliance with Directive 2001/43 (in other words non s-marked tyres) will be subject to the consequences of a statutory instrument signed off by Department for Transport minister Sadiq Khan on 10 February. BTMA chief executive, Graham Willson, told Tyres & Accessories that this approved text will now be laid before parliament and, unless there is an adverse reaction from parliament – something that is considered unlikely, the statutory instrument completing the implementation of directive 2001/43 will become effective on 23 March 2010.

Some industry observers see the time before this as the last chance saloon for anyone who has been clearing stocks of non-compliant tyres, with the Vehicle Certification Agency and Trading Standards are expected to be vigorously enforcing the new law, with penalty fines of up to £5,000 a tyre for those caught selling non-compliant products after 23 March.

12th February 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Helps Farmers to Stop Throwing Their Weight Around

Michelin made a worthy contribution to agricultural vehicle safety during the summer through a group of experts in the field. The Michelin Agricultural Contractor Panel, made up of five agricultural contractors – all of whom are past winners of the Farmer’s Weekly Contactor of the Year Competition and benchmark industry specialists – met on a regular basis and used the Michelin brand to help communicate technical issues facing the industry. The five members, Jonathan Cole, Troy Stuart, Roger Dickinson, Mike Simpson and Daniel James, made their first panel appearance at Stoneleigh’s Agricultural Showground.

16th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

From Hi-Viz to High Fashion

The high visibility vest, once the preserve of rail workers and those engaged in emergency services, has become ubiquitous. In his book ‘Pies and Prejudice’, Stuart Maconie refers to the reflective tabard, along with Greggs' pasties, as a new emblem of the North. And he has a point – people from all walks of life can be found wearing the high visibility tabard for workplace duties, changing a tyre or simply walking their similarly attired dog. And this army of fluorescent vest wearers are united by one common bond – they all look equally unfashionable.

15th December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

ATS Euromaster Offers Free Battery Checks

ATS Euromaster are urging motorist to have their batteries checked (free of charge) at their local ATS centre, in readiness for the onset of late autumn and winter. According to the company, the fact that the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October normally heralds the start of car and van batteries being put under increased strain, owing to drivers requiring extended use of their headlights and heating system, whilst the colder temperatures at this time of year reduce battery performance.

23rd October 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Quentin Willson Promotes TyreSafe ‘Lifesaver in Your Pocket’ Campaign

As part of October’s tyre safety month, Quentin Willson is the face of a new online video demonstrating TyreSafe’s ‘lifesaver in your pocket’ initiative which encourages drivers to check their tyre tread depth to see if they are safe and legal with the use of a 20p coin. The video compares the breaking distance of tyres at 1mm and 2mm and shows a difference of 17 metres between the two.

“As we approach some of the wettest months of the year, it’s essential that drivers have sufficient tread depth to keep them safe and legal,” explains Willson. “Without it, they could find themselves in a life threatening accident, lose their licence and face a heavy fine. The simplicity of the 20p test means that there is absolutely no excuse why anyone should be found driving on tyres which have illegal tread depth.”

9th October 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bosch Extends its ‘ESPerience’ Website

Bosch has enhanced and extended its Electronic Stability Program (ESP) consumer website. Introduced by Bosch in 1995, ESP is a vehicle active chassis braking safety system that can prevent a vehicle going into a potential skidding situation. ESP is, comments Bosch, three chassis system technologies in one – Antilock Braking (ABS), Traction Control (TCS) and ESP. Visitors to www.bosch-esperience.co.uk can gain access to all the information on this proven life-saving vehicle technology and view on-track driving demonstrations and animations of how the technology works.

16th July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Soon You Will Only Be Able to Fit Type-Approved CATs

The Department for Transport has confirmed that the draft regulations limiting the fitting of replacement CATs to type approved products only are expected to be presented for ministerial consideration this month (June). There is scope for amendments to be made by the minister, but in essence these draft Regulations implement mandatory European requirements, and are expected to become law about four weeks after signature by the minister. The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) will then be responsible for policing and enforcement of a law requiring replacement catalytic converters intended for cars and light vans registered from 2001 to be fully type approved.

Paul Hannah, business development director at Klarius Group commented: “In relation to vehicles to which the requirements apply, the Department for Transport have confirmed that the result of supplying or fitting a non-type approved CAT will be to make the company or business responsible and ‘potentially certain officers or equivalent of the company or business’ liable to prosecution with a maximum fine of £5,000. Professional Motor Mechanics need to learn quickly about what to do to adhere to the law and protect themselves; their customers, their employers and suppliers.”

23rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors