The National Accident Prevention Strategy highlights that “vehicle defects are an underappreciated and probably undercounted factor in road collisions.” This pivotal initiative seeks to combat the rising tide of accidents across the UK, which claim over 20,000 preventable lives annually and place immense strain on the NHS and the economy.
Tyres, in particular, are often implicated in road safety incidents, with TyreSafe data revealing that over 6.1 million tyres in the UK have illegal tread annually, and the DVSA reporting more than two million MOT failures due to defective tyres, half of which are deemed ‘dangerous.’ This raises serious concerns over braking distances, handling, and incident prevention. Tyres are the first line of safety for vehicles, yet millions of tyres on UK roads are illegal or poorly maintained each year.
TyreSafe sits on the National Road Safety Committee, which plays a key role calling for the Government to support the recommendation to create a new Road Safety Investigation Branch (RSIB). This proposed development will become a new branch within the Department for Transport with significant powers to investigate road deaths to identify cause of death and serious injury because of the most severe incidents on our roads.
Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said, “The inclusion of tyres in the National Accident Prevention Strategy and focus on vehicle defects represents a pivotal shift in road safety policy. Tyres are the only contact point between a vehicle and the road; their condition is paramount. We welcome the proposal to establish the RSIB, to better investigate vehicle defects in serious incidents and urge continued collaboration to educate drivers and enforce regulations.”
While tyres are already subject to legal requirements, public awareness remains limited. The Strategy’s recommendations to strengthen enforcement and educate road users on the dangers of illegal and poorly maintained tyres are essential to making UK roads safer. TyreSafe is committed to supporting these initiatives, working alongside industry partners and government bodies to drive awareness and improve tyre safety standards.
Following the launch of the report, RoSPA have shared a link to a supporters’ pack, which includes the full report with key findings, a template letter for contacting local government, social media assets and a supporter logo. The pack is designed to assist supporters with raising awareness of the report’s findings and the associated safety recommendations. Supporters can find the full report and the ‘Safer Lives, Stronger Nation’ accompanying campaign here.
Source: Tyretradenews
