Regular Tyre Safety Checks Critical for Safe Driving
TyreSafe, a non-profit organisation that aims to promote awareness about the importance of tyre safety, has brought out a survey in this regard recently. The survey took into account numerous company car drivers and studied the regularity with which they carried out tyre checks.
According to the findings of the survey, a distressingly high percentage of company car drivers fail to conduct proper tyre checks on a regular basis. This amounts to unsafe driving and may result in accidents that may cause grievous injuries and even deaths.
25% of company drivers were found to have never conducted the tread depth check, and another 41% admitted that they have not done the same in the past six months. The prevailing UK law requires car tyre tread be at least 1.6mm over the central three-quarters of the tread around the full tyre.
TyreSafe pointed out that it is not only drivers who need to take responsibility for such safety checks. The companies who employ drivers must also ensure that the drivers take every measure required by law to keep tyres in good working condition. Accidents and mishaps caused by negligence of tyre tread will lead to hefty fines or penalties, warned TyreSafe.
There is a simple method to check the sufficiency of tyre tread, which TyreSafe calls the ‘lifesaver in your pocket’ initiative. It suggests inserting a 20p coin into the deepest tread groove. If the outer rim of the coin is still visible over the groove, then the tread needs a closer examination by a professional, as the tyre may not have the required depth.
Such checks conducted once a month can keep cars roadworthy and roads safe, believes the organization. The Chairman of TyreSafe stated that companies must take up the task of making such simple checks a part of every driver’s routine. As company drivers cover an immensely large number of miles per year on the road, getting them into the habit of performing such tests regularly can go a long way in ensuring safe driving, believes the Chairman.
In fact, experts believe that such simple precautions can significantly reduce the number of injuries and deaths related to road accidents in the UK. For advice on the needs of a particular organisation – click IOSH Managing Safely – for courses to help Management manage safety and learn how to promote a positive health and safety attitude in the workplace.
