LEGISLATION
Bradford Council and the Environment Agency have teamed up for spot checks on 37 small garages in Bradford. The crackdown on illegal tyre dumping follows the completion of the introduction of legislation banning discarded tyres from being dumped at landfill sites.
Although demand for road freight transport in Europe is predicted to increase substantially by 2020, the road ahead looks difficult for many established transport companies. Spiralling fuel prices, increased competition following enlargement of the EU and stricter environmental and safety legislation are squeezing margins. As a result price and overall economy are as important as ever for truck tyre consumers. Tyres & Accessories collated all the recent UK market data and asked what effect this ‘cost culture’ is having on the UK market.
Controversial new plans being considered by the UK government could result in motorist who use “quiet tyres” paying less tax. The focus of the proposed legislation is a reduction in road noise produced by the tyres. Critics have suggested the proposals are impractical. As well as causing disturbance to people living near major roads and motorways, tyre noise has been found to reduce driver concentration, with consequent effects on road safety.
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Limited has launched a campaign which it says aims to “protect UK customers from unknowingly buying tyres that were not designed for road conditions in this market.” The campaign targets Asian and African manufactured tyres bearing the Dunlop and SP trademarks, but designed for their local markets, and not imported or recommended by the UK company. The company has issued the first of a series of claims against importers and distributors dealing in unauthorised Dunlop tyres. The claim was issued in the English High Court 1 September.
The legislation regarding winter tyres is diverse across Europe, but the distinctive safety advantages of winter tyres are convincing drivers and national governments to consider making the use of winter tyres compulsory. In turn this provides retailers with a strong selling point for customers that plan to drive abroad to enjoy ski holidays for example. The reasons for increased legal recognition is not only the advantages of winter tyres on snow and ice. The tyres’ safety benefits on slushy, wet and dry but cold roads are getting more and more recognized.
On 18 July the US Tire Industry Association (TIA) announced its support of House Resolution 5632, after “much deliberation,” TIA has decided to support H. R. 5632. The TIA Government Affairs Committee was able to come to a consensus after weighing the pros and cons of the legislation, the association said in a statement. “We were very pleased to receive feedback and questions from our membership regarding H.R. 5632,” said TIA President, Bob Malerba. “It was extremely helpful to our Government Affairs Committee in making a decision on whether to support the bill.”
September’s IAA International Commercial Vehicle Show 2006 will feature the official launch of Continental Truck Tyres’ fuel and weight-saving HDL1 Superdrive drive-axle tyre. In the UK Conti, along with other tyre makers, is planning to lobby legislators to get wide single tyres like Superdrive made legal for 44 tonne GVW roadtrains on British roads.
(Akron/Tire Review) After weeks of review, TIA has decided to support the tyre fuel efficiency program bill (HR 5632) written by the RMA and recently passed by the House Energy Committee. In making the announcement, TIA said, “The TIA Government Affairs Committee was able to come to consensus after weighing the pros and cons of the legislation.” Separately, SEMA announced earlier this month that it would not support the bill, which calls for NHTSA to create a national tyre fuel efficiency consumer information program that would include a fuel efficiency rating system, requirements for providing such information to tire buyers, and a national consumer tire maintenance consumer education program.
(Akron/Tire Review – Reuters) Goodyear Tire & Rubber has made considerable progress on a North America turnaround, but looming pension liabilities, tough labour talks and high material costs are raising credit investors’ worries that further progress could be slow. Ignoring Goodyear’s strong rise in first-quarter earnings on 4 May, credit investors have sold off the company’s bonds, pushing prices lower over the past two months. Goodyear’s 7.86 per cent notes due in 2011 have fallen to 91.7 cents on the dollar from a high this year of 99.5 cents on 9 May, according to MarketAxess.
(Akron/Tyre Review) Calling the proposed legislation “unnecessary” and potentially “detrimental to the safety of motorists and passengers,” SEMA has voiced its opposition to HR 5632, the RMA-created bill that calls for the creation of tyre fuel efficiency testing and rating system and accompanying consumer education program. HR 5632 was developed by the RMA last fall, and was passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on June 20. Thus far, SEMA has been the only automotive and tyre industry group to make comment on the proposed legislation. At press time, TIA has offered no comment on the bill.
Businesses are being reminded today that used tyres can no longer be sent to landfill from 16 July 2006 when new regulations come into force across England and Wales. Liz Parkes, Head of Waste Regulation at the Environment Agency said: “From 16 July, regulations will ban used whole and shredded tyres from being disposed of in all landfill sites.
Fleet decision-makers are failing to grasp the importance of managing occupational road safety with glaring holes in policies and procedures uncovered in a survey by Kwik-Fit Fleet. A nationwide survey of 162 fleet operators by corporate sales managers at Kwik-Fit Fleet, Britain’s largest independent fast-fit organisation, has uncovered a widespread failure to embrace best practice in numerous risk management issues.
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Walsall tyre technicians Dave Carrier and Chris Bunce have received certificates from Bridgestone UK technical training manager Phil Thirsk, having passed a health and safety course run by the tyre manufacturer. The course is part of a training scheme endorsed by the Institute of the Motor Industry, and the two technicians, who work at First Stop dealership Lodge Tyres on Pleck Road, are now well on their way to achieving full accreditation.
Brazil has defended its import ban on retreaded tyres on health and environment-related grounds, in its first written submission to the WTO regarding a dispute with the EU, the ICTSD has reported.
In November 2005, the EU formally challenged the WTO consistency of Brazil’s import ban on retreaded tyres, as well as related fines targeting the importation and subsequent marketing, transportation and storage of such tyres. Furthermore, the EU targeted Brazil’s exemption of some countries — Mercosur partners Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay — from these measures, arguing that it violated WTO rules.
A recent Farmer’s Weekly article entitled “One man’s waste…Profit from tyres” encourages farmers to shop around for the best deal when it comes to disposing of tyres. The article pointed to new waste regulations that came into force on 15 May, explaining that Farmers can store waste tyres that are “already on-farm” under an exemption licence from the Environment Agency that must be applied for by 15 May 2007.
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