When did you last read the Highway Code?
Drivers are being urged to make sure they keep up to date with the rules of the road, as research shows that less than a quarter of motorists read the Highway Code after passing their test.
Drivers are being urged to make sure they keep up to date with the rules of the road, as research shows that less than a quarter of motorists read the Highway Code after passing their test.
The AA is encouraging drivers to check their tyres as research released during Tyre Safety Month reveals the risks drivers are taking by neglecting vital tyre safety checks. Two-thirds of women (65 per cent) and a third of men (36 per cent) do not check their tyres regularly, instead relying on their garage to tell them when their tyres are worn out and need to be changed.
The latest Department for Transport data, compiled by the Office of National Statistics shows that road deaths increased by 4 per cent compared with 2013, rising to 1,775. The “Reported road casualties Great Britain: annual report 2014”, which was published on 24 September also points out that the number of people seriously injured increased by 5 per cent to 22,807 in 2014.
Home and garden retailer Homebase (part of Home Retail Group) is among the first businesses to sign up to ‘Project Pictogram’, a national road safety initiative aimed at raising awareness about the four main causes of road traffic collisions and fatalities.
More than half of British drivers don’t get problems with their cars checked until three months after they have appeared, according to new research. A survey of more than 1,000 British drivers conducted by BookMyGarage.com, found that Britons are risking road accidents, worsening damage and steeper repair bills, as a result of not getting issues fixed in good time when they appear.
Anyone who doubts the need for a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of worn or badly-maintained tyres should consider the following statistics, released by TyreSafe and sourced from Department for Transport ‘Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain’.
Four Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship drivers have supported Road Safety Scotland’s ‘Race on the Track, Stay Safe on the Road’ initiative, crossing the Forth Road Bridge ahead of this weekend’s event at Knockhill.
A joint, ongoing study on the social psychology of road safety conducted by Goodyear and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has identified different ways that people respond when interacting with other drivers on the road. The information gained so far comes from the first stage of a two-part study into driving behaviour. LSE researchers worked with focus groups and conducted in-depth interviews to identify how drivers influence each other’s behaviour on the road.
In his position as Bridgestone’s north region managing director, as well as chair of the SMMT Aftermarket Section, Robin Shaw has expressed concern at Chancellor George Osborne’s plans in last month’s Budget to extend the deadline for new cars and motorcycles to be MOT tested after four years instead of three. Shaw believes the added 12 months will result in more cars running on tyres with tread depths below the 1.6mm legal limit.
Goodyear and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) are cooperating on road user behaviour research. The project, managed by LSE Consulting, is designed to contribute to the road safety debate in Europe with unique empirical insights. “Current road safety research is largely focused upon how drivers use their vehicles within a physical, […]
Experienced MOT testers across the UK say that delaying the first test from year 3 to year 4, adds to the risk a vehicle or parts will become worn out or defective. With some figures suggesting that one in five vehicles fail the MOT in the first 3 years, adding another year will not only exacerbate the problem, but also mean that many vehicles will no longer be covered by most vehicle manufactures 3 year warranties.
Following the launch of the WheelRright’s free drive-over pressure check initiative at Keele services M6 south in March, the company has released details of the programme’s first findings.
TyreSafe’s annual industry briefing this month made it clear that illegal tread depth remains a problem in the UK. In its survey of Britain, TyreSafe found that 27.1 per cent of tyres inspected had less than the legal limit, 1.6mm of tread, while another 39.0 per cent were close to the limit (between 1.6 and 2.0mm. Given this context, the presence of a new, technologically advanced tread depth measurement system, present in a handheld device called the TreadReader, and in drive-over products manufactured by Hunter and distributed in the UK by Pro-Align, is significant. Sue Pryce, marketing director of the British firm behind the technology, Sigmavision, provides an additional perspective on the “unsettling” tread depth statistics.
Tyre Safety Month 2015 registration began on 9 July, following TyreSafe’s annual briefing.
Running throughout October, Tyre Safety Month is the tyre industry’s main annual campaign, providing a focal point for the entire industry and an ideal platform to educate road users about the importance of correct tyre care and maintenance. The awareness raising campaign brings road safety professionals, government officials, emergency services, businesses, tyre dealers and others together to organise local awareness-raising events throughout the UK.
Owing to the fact that TyreSafe now has over 100 active members (many of which are large and/or influential businesses in their respective areas), the organisation is better placed than ever to effect change and there certainly seems to have been progress towards the association’s goal of changing hearts and minds in relation to tyres. As Stuart Jackson said during his presentation at the recent TyreSafe annual briefing, “let’s not talk about it being a commodity, it is a safety critical product”.
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