Drivers in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are being encouraged to check their tyres this October as part of national Tyre Safety Month.
The Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership is supporting national charity TyreSafe’s campaign to highlight the importance of checking tyres regularly.
Regular tyre safety checks reduce the risk of an incident whilst on the roads but an estimated one in five have never checked the tread on their tyres. This rises to a worrying one in three amongst young drivers. Checking and maintaining tyres also reduces the cost of motoring, as under inflated tyres will wear quicker and cause the vehicle to use more fuel.
David Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways at Staffordshire County Council and Joint Chair of the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership said: “Keeping our roads safe remains our priority and this is an important campaign that we support each year.
“Making sure your vehicle is fit to drive and has tyres with the correct amount of tread and pressure in them is really important. Ideally you should check your tyre tread depth and pressures at least once a month and before any long journeys. Many petrol stations have self-service air pressure pumps available. Reputable tyre dealers would also be able to check and advise too.”
Cllr Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for infrastructure, regeneration and heritage at Stoke-on-Trent City Council and joint chair of Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership said: “Checking the condition of your tyres properly will take no more than a few minutes and is an investment well worth making.
“Before long journeys and regularly once a month, motorists should check their tyres, especially now as we head into the winter months, with snow and ice on the horizon. With a few simple checks, drivers can avoid the risk of an incident and ensure we can all get from A to B safely.”
This year’s ‘What’s stopping you?’ campaign from TyreSafe reminds drivers that their tyres are the only point of contact between their car and the road. The campaign asks drivers to ‘ACT’ and check:
Air Pressure – correct tyre pressures are shown on a sticker on the inner part of the car door, filler cap or in the owner’s manual. Use an accurate pressure gauge to ensure they are right for the load as part of your pre-journey planning.
Condition – if stones or other objects caught between grooves in the tread can be removed without damaging the tyre, drivers are advised to do so. Bulges, cracks, cuts and embedded objects are cause for concern and need to be checked by a professional.
Tread – if you don’t have access to an accurate tread depth gauge, a 20p coin can be used to see if your tyres’ tread depths are approaching the 1.6mm minimum limit. Insert the 20p at several points across and around each tyre. If you can see the coin’s outer band at any point the tyre may be illegal and you should seek advice from a professional.
For more information about tyre safety visit www.tyresafe.org
