Call to check vehicles before travelling as 41,500 breakdowns caused by tyre issues

Lots of these breakdowns may have been prevented if drivers had carried out fundamental automobile checks earlier than setting off together with checking their tyres.

Now Nationwide Highways, which is liable for motorways and main A roads throughout the nation, has launched a brand new marketing campaign reminding drivers to verify their tyres recurrently and at all times earlier than lengthy journeys.

Tyre points had been the primary purpose throughout 2021 that individuals broke down on Nationwide Highways roads with 41,560 individuals doing so, in comparison with 35,892 in 2020 when visitors numbers had been impacted by the Covid-19 lockdowns. Up to now this yr, there have already been greater than 19,300 breakdowns because of issues with tyres.

Nationwide Highways Head of Highway Security, Jeremy Phillips, mentioned:

With faculties breaking apart for summer time quickly there might be extra individuals on the roads and taking longer journeys. We all know that breaking down could be a very upsetting expertise, no one desires to begin off their vacation stranded along with the street, subsequent to fast-paced visitors.

So we’re reminding drivers to verify their automobiles, significantly the tyres, earlier than setting off. Unsafe tyres put you and others in danger in addition to operating the danger of attracting a hefty wonderful and penalty factors.

A easy verify on tyre tread and strain may stop a breakdown and ensure you get to your vacation spot secure and sound.

The summer time vacation interval is the busiest time of yr for breakdowns, Nationwide Highways figures present.

In 2021 there have been 21,307 breakdowns on the community in July and 20,526 in August, a median of 5,000 breakdowns every week.

In addition to operating the danger of a breakdown, driving with out the legally required quantity of tread on tyres can adversely have an effect on grip, braking distance and steering.

Whereas driving with under-inflated or over-inflated tyres can adversely have an effect on braking distances, steering, gasoline effectivity and the lifetime of tyres.

If stopped by the police whereas driving with unlawful tyres, motorists face fines of £2,500 and three penalty factors per tyre.

Nationwide Highways’ recommendation to motorists is:

• guarantee tyre pressures are appropriate for the load and verify the situation of tyres, together with the spare.
• look out for cuts or put on throughout the entire tyre together with sidewall.
• all tyres are legally required to have a minimal tread depth of 1.6mm – to verify your tyres place a 20p coin into the primary grooves of the tread. In the event you can’t see the raised outer rim of the coin (with the phrases “Twenty pence” engraved), then the tyre has ample tread depth

Every automobile has a distinct really helpful tyre strain, which can differ relying on the load you’re carrying. You’ll be able to normally discover this on the within of the motive force’s door, petrol cap or in your automobile guide.

Stefan Hay, Nationwide Tyre Distributors Affiliation (NTDA) Chief Govt, mentioned:

The newest statistics present that tyres stay the most typical purpose behind breakdowns on the strategic street community. This comes as no nice shock to the NTDA, as our personal analysis confirmed that 60% of motorists questioned, admitted to by no means checking their tyres and most had little or no information relating to tyre administration points such because the authorized tread depth restrict.

The NTDA and its members are delighted, due to this fact, to as soon as once more assist Nationwide Highways with this extraordinarily essential Summer time Tyre Security Marketing campaign.

For extra recommendation go to the National Highways website.

Basic enquiries

Members of the general public ought to contact the Nationwide Highways buyer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists ought to contact the Nationwide Highways press workplace on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to talk to essentially the most applicable press officer.