UK courts take dim view of tire neglect

ERJ staff report (BC)

Colchester, UK – The TyreSafe agency is highlighting “alarming” new statistics from the UK Ministry of Justice, revealing that on average, more than 170 motorists were convicted every week in 2012 for driving on defective tires at magistrates' courts in England and Wales.

In total, some 10 228 car owners found themselves in court because their tires were in a dangerous or defective condition, with 8,919 successful prosecutions taking place.

"These latest figures are incredibly worrying and reflect the ongoing challenge that we have in terms of raising the awareness about the importance of driving on safe and legal tires," commented Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe.

"Regular checks which only take a few minutes should be made at least once a month, yet it's clear from these latest figures that many drivers are simply not taking these precautions, risking not only prosecution, but more importantly, their safety on the road."

"October's tire safety month is a great opportunity for every driver across the UK to ensure that not only are their tires safe, but they are also legal, therefore avoiding any potential court appearance," Jackson concluded.

This is an external link and should open in a new window. If the window does not appear, please check your pop-up blocking software. ERJ is not responsible for the content of external sites.

News release from TyreSafe