Keeping a grip on safety

More than two million motorists in the UK are risking the lives of their families by never checking their tyre pressures or tread according to the RAC Foundation.

At the launch of a two day tyre safety event at the Fort Shopping Park in Glasgow, the Foundation will claim that Scottish drivers are among the most neglectful in the UK of their tyres – almost a third of cars and vans tested recently had at least one defective or bald tyre.

Research has shown that defective or badly worn tyres are a contributory factor in many accidents. Six per cent of all fatal motorway accidents are caused by the sudden failure of under inflated tyres while worn tyres contribute to ten per cent of accidents in the wet – conditions frequently prevalent during a Scottish winter.

Independent tests recently concluded that cars show significantly increased stopping distances in the wet when the tread depth falls below 3.5mm – a vehicle with tyres with only 1mm of tread will take 60 per cent longer to stop on a wet road.

An NOP Automotive study carried out for the Foundation showed:

• 7 per cent of motorists only check their tyre pressure and tread once a year
• 15 per cent of women never check their tyres
• 13 per cent only make checks when going on a long journey
• 4 per cent make checks every journey
• 21 per cent every week
• 49 per cent once a month.

Correct pressures are vital to safe handling, optimum steering, braking and grip but even when drivers try to check them they may encounter significant barriers. Spot checks carried out by the Foundation revealed that as many as one in three air pressure gauges in petrol stations were not working or had been vandalised. It is now calling for petrol retailers to provide free, accurate and well-maintained tyre pressure gauges after receiving many complaints that gauges are not working.

The NOP survey also found that:

• Half of all women drivers do not know their recommended tyre pressure
• 85 per cent of male drivers claim to know their tyre pressure
• Young drivers (17 –24) were least likely to know their recommended tyre pressures.
• A quarter of high mileage drivers do not know their pressure.

Scottish drivers are being invited to bring along their vehicles for a free tyre and winter safety check at the Fort Shopping Park today and tomorrow (Friday 4 and Saturday 5) between 10am and 5pm. The event is organised by the Tyre Industry Council and will also include help and advice on many aspects of safe motoring and simple preventative checks to avoid winter breakdowns while the police will be on hand to check the fitting of child safety seats. Full details can be found at tyresafety.co.uk

The clinic precedes this year’s tyre safety week which starts in Scotland on November 7. The police will carry out roadside tyre checks. The penalty for having a defective tyre could result in a £2,500 fine and three penalty points

Sue Nicholson, Head of Campaigns for the RAC Foundation said: “Tyre safety is not an optional extra. Tyres are the only contact that the car has with the road and therefore it is essential that they are not worn or under or over inflated. If you are unsure about tyres or other safety equipment, this is the perfect time to get them checked and put things right in advance of the winter.

“If more drivers in Scotland followed the simple advice given out at this event then many unnecessary injuries and deaths could be prevented.”