With 1.3 million deaths occurring on roads around the world each year, the global campaign is calling upon Governments and other organisations to make roads safer and save lives. TyreSafe will support the campaign by educating UK road users about the importance of correct and regular tyre maintenance.

“We are delighted to get behind this co-ordinated global initiative from the UN,” comments Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “Although the UK is one of the world’s leading countries in terms of road safety, there is still a huge amount that we can do to improve things further. Unfortunately, many drivers remain ignorant or show little interest in tyre safety issues. Therefore, to prevent further needless injury or loss of life, it’s essential that we continue to educate and engage with them in an interesting and innovative manner.”

Despite the success in recent years of TyreSafe’s high-profile awareness and education programmes, illegal, defective and under-inflated tyres still contributed to the death or serious injury of more than 200 motorists in 2009.

“The Decade of Action will build upon five key pillars to achieve its aims”, explains Jackson. “Enhancing driver behaviour is one of the pillars and we believe that through our education and engagement activities we will help drivers adopt a more responsible attitude. However, other organisations have a critical role to play in helping us change behaviours and we look forward to working with a wide range of other businesses and groups in order to make this happen.”

With Mercedes-Benz Vans’ ambition of building the safest vans in the world, the partnership is ideally placed to educate and remind van users about the importance of correct tyre care and maintenance.

“It goes without saying but having Mercedes-Benz Vans join TyreSafe as a member is fantastic news for us and the wider commercial vehicle industry,” says Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “Safety is a key priority for Mercedes-Benz when designing its vehicles so our partnership is a natural fit, helping to ensure the ongoing protection of its customers. We look forward to their input and working with closely with them on future programmes.”

One of the first collaborative activities between the two organisations will see TyreSafe presenting at this year’s Mercedes-Benz Van Experience event. The annual event, which was established in 2003, has become firmly established as one of the highlights in the van calendar. This year’s experience will be held from 20th June until 1st July at Prodrive’s private test track in Warwickshire, where guests will be able to experience and learn about a wide range of safety-related technologies and programmes.

“Mercedes-Benz Vans is at the forefront of vehicle safety with a range of products and initiatives such as our SafeDrive Technologies”, explains John Reed, Van Product Manager, Mercedes-Benz UK. “With our focus on safety, we are delighted to be joining TyreSafe and offering our industry insight for future campaigns. We also look forward to utilising TyreSafe’s expertise in helping us educate our customers and staff about correct tyre care and maintenance.”

To help businesses and van users understand their responsibilities towards tyre care and the key tyre safety issues they need to consider, TyreSafe has recently launched a new dedicated van tyre safety section on its website. The site includes a selection of useful tips and guides as well as a free downloadable safety leaflet. To view the pages or download the leaflet, visit www.tyresafe.org.

According to TyreSafe, the UK’s leading tyre safety organisation, drivers failing to ensure that their tyres are properly inflated are much more likely to suffer a serious failure, will suffer from increased tyre wear and will experience higher fuel bills.

To ensure tyres can cope with additional vehicle loads, car manufacturers often specify different pressure settings for laden and unladen vehicles. These recommended levels can be found in the vehicle manufacturers’ handbook, on a plate on the driver’s door sill, or inside the fuel filler cap.

When tyres are under-inflated or overloaded, extra heat builds up inside the tyre which greatly increases the likelihood of failure. This dangerous event is most likely to happen on motorways at high speeds, when tyres have run under-inflated for a prolonged period.

Fuel bills are also higher for drivers running on under-inflated tyres. One TyreSafe member estimates that when tyres are under-inflated by just 6psi, or around 20 per cent, fuel bills rise by three per cent.

TyreSafe, one of the UK’s leading tyre safety organisations, says it needn’t be all bad news for private motorists, hauliers and fleet operators because as well as smaller fuel bills, correct tyre pressures have the extra benefits of increased safety, lower CO2 emissions and longer tyre life.

TyreSafe chairman, Stuart Jackson, comments: “Reduced fuel bills are possible by simply making sure tyres are inflated to the correct pressure, so at a time when every penny counts for many motorists, just a few extra minutes taking these simple steps can pay real dividends.”

Under inflated tyres cause higher fuel consumption as the tyres have an increased rolling resistance, which means that the engine has to work harder and more fuel is used, making the car less economical. Calculations from one TyreSafe member show that when tyres are under-inflated by just 20 percent or around 6psi, 3 percent more fuel is used.

There are also safety implications including the increased risk of suffering a blow out at high speed due to excessive heat building up in the tyre.

Hitting a pothole can cause serious internal tyre damage, which may result in dangerous sidewall bulges, or result in cuts to the tyre, which may expose cords, rendering it both dangerous and illegal.

Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe, comments: “Potholes can cause significant damage to wheels and tyres. It’s therefore important for drivers to ensure their tyres are properly inflated to reduce any potential damage. If they do suffer the misfortune of hitting a pothole, drivers should make sure both their wheels and tyres are thoroughly inspected by a professional for signs of damage. This may occur in the form of cuts or bulges in the tyre or, as we have seen increasing cases of, hairline fractures appearing in alloy wheels.

“In fact, whatever time of year it is motorists should always check their tyre pressure at least once a month and especially if they are planning any long journeys.”

Other effects of hitting a pothole include wheel misalignment. If there is significant misalignment the car may pull to one side or cause vibrations in the steering wheel which can be distracting and make the vehicle difficult to control. In less severe cases this can go unnoticed by the driver yet still result in increased or irregular tyre wear and higher fuel costs.

“Many garages and tyre dealers offer free tyre safety inspections for drivers. Properly equipped workshops can also perform some quick and simple checks to make sure the wheels are properly aligned,” adds Stuart Jackson.

If motorists are unsure of the correct tyre pressure for their car, they can visit the TyreSafe website at www.tyresafe.org and enter their vehicle’s registration details or by downloading the TyreSafe iPhone App. Alternatively, details can be found in the vehicle manufacturer’s handbook, inside the fuel filler cap or on a sticker inside the driver’s door sill.

For further information about tyre safety visit www.tyresafe.org

TyreSafe is advising private motorists, hauliers and fleet operators that correct tyre pressures have the extra benefits of increased safety, lower CO2 emissions and longer tyre life.

TyreSafe chairman, Stuart Jackson, comments: “Reduced fuel bills are possible by simply making sure tyres are inflated to the correct pressure, so at a time when every penny counts for many motorists, just a few extra minutes taking these simple steps can pay real dividends.”

Under inflated tyres cause higher fuel consumption as the tyres have an increased rolling resistance, which means that the engine has to work harder and more fuel is used, making the car less economical. Calculations from one TyreSafe member show that when tyres are under-inflated by just 20 percent or around 6psi, 3 percent more fuel is used

There are also safety implications including the increased risk of suffering a blow out at high speed due to excessive heat building up in the tyre.

Jackson adds: “Vehicle safety is always paramount, but making sure tyres are correctly inflated has the very attractive benefit of reduced fuel bills, which is especially important in tough economic times. Motorists needn’t be throwing money away just by making a few straight forward tyre pressure checks.”

In an extensive survey carried out by one TyreSafe member last year, more than 4,500 cars had their tyre pressures checked during a three-month period. An alarming 36 percent were found to be driving with tyres considered to be dangerous as they were under-inflated by more than 8psi.

Motorists can get the correct tyre pressure for their car by visiting the TyreSafe website at www.tyresafe.org and entering their vehicle’s registration details or by downloading the TyreSafe iPhone App.

By supporting the scheme, TyreSafe hopes to help cut the number of illegal part-worn tyres entering the market and also encourage safer worker practices within tyre dealers, garages and workshops.

“The Responsible Recycler Scheme is of significant importance to the tyre industry and we are delighted to offer our support,” comments Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “In addition to the detrimental impact to the environment and cost caused by illegal disposal, tyres that are not properly recycled pose a serious safety threat to motorists if they re-enter the market as illegal part-worn tyres.”

Under the industry’s RRS, tyres are collected, handled and reprocessed by licensed operators in line with all UK and EU regulations. Members of the scheme are independently audited and full traceability means that tyres handled by RRS member companies can be tracked throughout the disposal chain. More than 45 million used tyres are processed each year through the scheme, making it the largest voluntary tyre recovery programme in Europe.

TyreSafe recently warned drivers about the dangers of part worn tyres following an investigation by Birmingham Trading Standards. The study found that nine out of ten part worn tyres being sold in the City, failed to meet minimum legal standards.

The worrying findings have been issued by TyreSafe, the UK’s leading tyre safety group, who has warned that not only could part worn tyres be a false economy, but they could pose a significant safety hazard to drivers and other road users. In 2008, illegal, under-inflated or defective tyres contributed to the deaths of 34 drivers and the injuries of more than 900 other motorists.

“Tyres play a critical role in vehicle safety and consequently, some very strict requirements exist regarding the sale of part worn tyres,” warns Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “If part worn tyres are bought from an unreliable source or do not meet the required standards, drivers could be placing themselves and other road users in significant danger. We understand the financial pressures being faced by many motorists but the risks associated with fitting part worn tyres are too high and we would always recommend fitting brand new tyres.”

One of TyreSafe’s primary concerns with part worn tyres relates to the internal structure of the tyre. Regulations require that part worns must be free from large cuts, bulges and lumps and must not have any of their plies or cords exposed. However, without a thorough examination of the internal components of the tyre using an x-ray machine, TyreSafe claims it is impossible to tell what unseen damage may have occurred.

By ensuring wheels are correctly aligned, drivers can minimise the effects of any pothole damage and ensure they remain as safe as possible.

“The recent bad weather will inevitably increase the number of potholes we see on our roads, which can cause a number of serious safety issues for drivers,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe.

“If a vehicle’s wheels are not correctly aligned it may pull to one side or cause vibrations in the steering wheel which can be distracting and make the vehicle difficult to control. By visiting your local garage or tyre dealer they will be able to perform some simple checks to make sure the wheels are correctly aligned, helping you to stay safe.”

As a tyre safety champion garages will receive a promotional pack containing a range of marketing materials that can be used to attract customers into the dealership and then educate them about tyre safety, helping to cut the number of deaths and accidents on the UK’s roads.

“Campaigns such as tyre safety month have received fantastic levels of support from independent garages and tyre dealers across the UK so we know it is an important area for them and their customers,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “The launch of the new promotional packs and tyre safety champion status will allow garages to show their commitment and concern for the safety of their customers. In addition, it will give them a set of high-quality resources at a low-cost that allows them to develop their own tyre safety campaigns. These can then be integrated into their own marketing plans and run at a time that is convenient to that individual business.”

To receive a promotional pack, garages simply need to visit the TyreSafe website (www.tyresafe.org/tyrechampion) and complete the secure online order form, including payment details to cover the £25 (+VAT) charge. Included within the pack is a tyre safety DVD presented by motoring journalist Quentin Willson which gives advice on how to check tyre tread depth, a selection of tyre safety posters, 50 customer tyre safety information leaflet and an official personalised certificate highlighting the garage’s tyre safety champion status.

When garages order their initial promotional pack, they are also asked to indicate the particular tyre sectors which are relevant to them, such as 4×4, motorcycle or van tyres. By selecting the relevant areas, the champion will then receive notifications about any additional campaigns and promotional packs that are developed for their specific customer type.

Driving over potholes can alter the vehicle’s steering and suspension geometries or damage critical components, which can reduce vehicle safety or generate extra running costs. By ensuring wheels are correctly aligned, drivers can minimise the effects of any pothole damage and ensure they remain as safe as possible.

“The recent bad weather will inevitably increase the number of potholes we see on our roads which can cause a number of serious safety issues for drivers,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “If a vehicle’s wheels are not correctly aligned it may pull to one side or cause vibrations in the steering wheel, which can be distracting and make the vehicle difficult to control. By visiting your local garage or tyre dealer they will be able to perform some simple checks to make sure the wheels are correctly aligned, helping you to stay safe.”

As well as the safety benefits offered by correct wheel alignment, motorists including haulage operators can also reduce their running costs. When a vehicle’s wheels are properly aligned, it is less likely to suffer from premature tyre wear as the tyres point in the correct direction, reducing any ‘scrubbing’ action on the road surface. This also helps to reduce the rolling resistance of the tyres meaning that fuel costs are also reduced.

Cold weather tyres are specifically designed to deliver the best possible performance and maximum safety when temperatures fall below seven degrees Celsius. With more natural rubber in the tyre tread compound than standard ‘summer tyres’, they provide significantly shorter stopping distances in cold, wet and icy conditions making driving in the entire winter much safer.

“There is a misconception that cold weather tyres are not appropriate for drivers in the UK,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Cold weather tyres provide much better grip in both wet and dry conditions when the temperature falls below seven degrees, so they offer extra safety typically from October through to March. These tyres also have different tread patterns from ‘summer’ tyres making them more able to cope with snowy conditions. Those drivers who have chosen cold weather tyres will continue to benefit long after the current snow falls melt away.”

The recent snowy conditions have also highlighted the need for drivers to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth. Vehicles travelling on tyres that have low or illegal tread depth have experienced poor levels of grip making acceleration, steering and braking difficult. This has lead to many motorists being stranded, often in remote locations, or involved in an accident.

In the snow, tyres need deeper tread to remain effective. The deeper grooves allow the tyre to ‘bite’ into the snow surface and provide better grip and traction. Tyres with low or illegal tread depth are unable to achieve this and the tyre simply spins or skids, meaning the driver has no control of the vehicle.

TyreSafe is now in its third year and since its inception has helped reduce the number of deaths on the UK’s roads from tyre related accidents, as reported by the Department for Transport, from 44 in 2006, to 34 in 2008. The number of reported casualties from accidents where illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres were a contributory factor has also reduced significantly from 1580 in 2006 to 894 in 2008.

“It’s a fantastic honour to have been awarded this distinguished accolade,” said Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “Despite being just three years old, the activities of TyreSafe really demonstrate what can be achieved when an industry rallies together. We continue to spread our messages about tyre safety to a wider audience in an increasingly engaging manner and we hope these efforts will result in an even greater reduction of tyre related accidents.”

TyreSafe campaigns in line with current legislation and duty of care regulations. It targets those within the tyre industry such as manufacturers and retailers as well as many outside including drivers, vehicle manufacturers, fleet operators, insurers, enforcement agencies and other groups. During 2009 it has run a number of successful campaigns including bike tyre safety month in April, and October’s tyre safety month which encouraged car drivers to check their tread depth.

Since 1987, the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards have been presented to individuals, companies or organisations in recognition of their outstanding contribution to improving road safety. TyreSafe received their award within the Road Users category which recognises education and enforcement programmes that change the behaviour of road users for improved safety. The other categories covered by the awards are for roads and vehicles.

“The judges were very impressed by TyreSafe’s example of an industry-led organisation which has delivered some very successful campaigns, raising awareness of an important road safety issue,” comments Adrian Walsh, director, RoadSafe, – organisers of the awards.

The Judges considered over 80 nominations TyreSafe was one of just 15 bodies who were successfully selected against a set a stringent criteria, to receive the award.

TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson received the award from David Jamieson, former Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport, at a luncheon on 20th November. The organisation will be further represented at the Annual Awards Luncheon Ceremony, hosted by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, on 8th December, where the highlight of the ceremony will be the announcement and presentation of the 2009 Premier Award.

Throughout the month hundreds of garages across the country will be encouraging motorists to check the depth of their tyre tread by using a 20p coin, to ensure they stay safe and legal.

“As we move into the wettest months of the year, adequate tyre tread depth is a critical element of road safety,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “There are still far too many accidents and fatalities occurring every day which could have been avoided if the driver had paid more attention to the condition of their tyres. The ‘lifesaver in your pocket’ campaign gives drivers an incredibly easy and simple way to check their tread depth which will help them stay safe and on the right side of the law.”

During 2008, 34 motorists died on the UK’s roads where an illegal, defective or under-inflated tyre was a contributory factor in the accident. At least 900 other motorists were also injured in accidents where tyre neglect played a part. Independent research commissioned by TyreSafe found that more than half of all drivers could not correctly identify the legal tread depth and a startling one in five drivers had never checked their tread depth. The AA reported that in 2008 nearly one in ten of every breakdown it attends, is for a tyre related call out.

According to research carried out by a major tyre manufacturer and member of TyreSafe, driving on tyres, which are just ten psi under the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure can increase fuel consumption by 2.5 per cent. By keeping tyres at their correct pressures, motorists haulage operators can  travel further on each tank of fuel, reduce their CO2 emissions and stay safer.

“Making sure that tyres are correctly inflated costs nothing yet can save motorists significant sums of money,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “By taking just a few minutes once a month to check tyre pressure levels and adjust them to the recommended levels, significant improvements in road safety can be made but also drivers will see a reduction in their fuel consumption, helping to offset the recent rise in fuel duty.”

When tyres are under-inflated, the contact patch with the road surface gets larger, causing increased drag, which in turn places more load on the engine. Keeping tyres correctly inflated minimises this negative effect and ensures that the car continues to operate safely.

Research conducted by TyreSafe revealed that one in 20 motorists were unaware that running a car on under-inflated tyres leads to an increase in fuel consumption. The research also showed that even those people who were aware that fuel consumption would increase were still not checking their tyre pressures regularly enough. Fewer than half of respondents had checked their tyre pressures within the last month, the maximum period recommended by TyreSafe between checks.

As well as increasing fuel costs, running under-inflated tyres adds further expense to motorists as the tyres wear out quicker. At lower levels of under-inflation, the tyre’s contact patch with the road surface is reduced to two small areas towards the outer edges of the tread. With the full vehicle load placed on these areas, the tread wears at a much higher rate, drastically reducing the performance of the tyre and forcing drivers to replace them much sooner than they would otherwise have needed to. By running tyres at just 80 percent of the recommended pressure, motorists can expect tyre life to be reduced to around 75 percent. If the pressure falls to 60 percent, motorists can expect to achieve just 35 percent of the potential mileage from the tyre.

TyreSafe’s top tips for checking tyre pressures correctly:

1. Check your tyre pressures at least once a month.
2. Tyre pressures should be checked against the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended level which can be found in the vehicle handbook and on a plate which is often located inside the fuel filler cap or on the driver’s door sill.
3. Check the pressure when tyres are cold (i.e. when you have travelled less than two miles).
4. If you are carrying a full load of passengers or luggage or will be towing a trailer or caravan, pressures should be increased in line with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.
5. Ensure a reliable and accurate gauge is used.
6. Check the pressure in all four tyres not forgetting the spare as well.
7. When checking pressures, give the rest of the tyre a visual inspection. Remove any stone or other objects embedded in the tread. Look out for any bulges, lumps or cuts.
8. If you are unsure on any aspect of tyre pressure or tyre condition take your vehicle to an approved fitting centre and speak to a qualified specialist.

The collaboration will see the organisations working more closely together, taking an active part in each other’s development and initiatives to reduce the number of casualties and accidents on the UK’s roads. TyreSafe has become a full member of RoadSafe meaning it will take a seat on its advisory panel, while RoadSafe has joined TyreSafe as an associate member.

“Having worked together on an informal basis for a number of years, it was clear to both organisations that we could potentially improve road safety even further by formalising our relationship,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “There are many areas where we are trying to reach the same audiences and educate them, their employees, customers and stakeholders on the importance of road and tyre safety. Our new relationship will allow us to do this in a more co-ordinated and effective manner”.

TyreSafe is now in its third year, having taken over the valuable work carried out by its predecessor the Tyre Industry Council. The not for profit organisation is dedicated to raising awareness about tyre safety issues in the UK. RoadSafe was launched in 2001 and is a road safety partnership of leading companies in the motor and transport industry in the UK. Its mission is to reduce road deaths and injuries through building partnerships between the motor industry and related companies, traffic engineers, the police and road safety professionals, promoting the safe design and use of vehicles and roads and encouraging education and innovation.

In addition to its national and international work, RoadSafe organises The Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards and manages the government-backed Driving for Better Business campaign.

“Working in partnership will help to reinforce key safety messages” comments Adrian Walsh, director, Roadsafe. “With October’s tyre safety month fast approaching, we will be working closely with TyreSafe to see how we can raise awareness of this important safety issue. In addition, we welcome TyreSafe as a partner in the ‘Driving for Better Business’ campaign and will be encouraging its members to play an active role in promoting good work-related road safety practice by joining more than 10,000 other businesses and individuals as members of our network.”

Both organisations are signatories to the European Road Safety Charter which was launched in 2004 with the aim of halving the number of deaths on European roads by 2010.  For more information about TyreSafe, visit www.tyresafe.org. For more information about RoadSafe visit www.roadsafe.com.

TyreSafe says that in the HGV sector, statistics recorded by VOSA reveal an MoT failure rate of 36.5 per cent in 2007/8, with ‘condition of tyres’ ranking as the second most common failure defects .

The VOSA statistics reveal that the percentage of failure defects attributed to tyres rose from 4.9 percent in 2006/7 to 5.6 percent in 2007/8 among HGV motor vehicles.

Tyres are of fundamental importance to road safety as they provide the only contact a vehicle has with the road, according to TyreSafe.

Basic checks such as making sure tyres are correctly inflated can make all the difference, as the pressurised air inside an HGV tyre has to support the weight of the vehicle and its load.

Tyres must also be well maintained in order to keep the vehicle stable as it travels around corners, work in harmony with the vehicle’s main suspension system and help the vehicle accelerate and brake effectively.
TyreSafe aims to raise awareness of the importance of driving on safe and correctly maintained tyres among road haulage communities and commercial vehicle users.

For more truck tyre safety advice from TyreSafe click on the following link: http://www.tyresafe.org/trucktyres/

Tyre safety organisation TyreSafe is making truck tyre safety information more widely available to commercial vehicle users by adding a truck specific section to its website and producing a truck tyre safety handout. Defective tyres represent a growing number of MoT failures in the HGV sector, with statistics recorded by VOSA showing that an MoT failure rate of 36.5 percent was recorded in 2007/8, with ‘condition of tyres’ ranking as the second most common failure defect. The new TyreSafe web pages contain invaluable tyre safety advice for all members of the commercial vehicle community, including fleet managers, workshop managers, fleet inspectors and drivers and are designed to be informative and easily accessible.

“With fleet operators increasingly under pressure to ensure the provision of safe and roadworthy vehicles and VOSA officials now able to issue fixed penalty notices to drivers at the roadside, commercial vehicle users must be more vigilant than ever to ensure that their vehicles’ tyres are legal and correctly maintained,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “Making tyre maintenance a key priority allows commercial fleet operators to help ensure the safety of their drivers and reduce the number of accidents caused by defective tyres on our roads. TyreSafe’s new truck tyre safety guide provides a useful point of reference for safety information together with a set of practical tips.”

The new web pages can be found at www.tyresafe.org and include clear and concise information on the importance of tyre pressure, tread depth, wheel alignment, regrooving and tyre disposal, together with details of the common causes of tyre damage and wear and top tips for correct truck tyre maintenance. A free truck tyre safety handout can be downloaded from the site and hard copies are also available.

Poorly maintained tyres can seriously affect the safety of drivers and other motorists involved in a tyre failure incident, and can also lead to increased vehicle downtime, premature tyre wear and higher fuel consumption. Fleet operators have a duty of care to their drivers and must ensure that they are provided with a safe working environment, including the provision of safe and roadworthy vehicles. Since the Health and Safety Offences Act came into force in January 2009, UK courts have greater authority to prosecute businesses for committing offences such as fitting illegal tyres or faulty brakes. The maximum penalty currently stands at £20,000. Drivers are also under greater pressure from VOSA to ensure that their tyres are legal, with perpetrators risking roadside charges of up to £200 per offence.
For further information or to visit the new TyreSafe truck tyre safety web pages, please visit www.tyresafe.org. To request a free truck tyre safety handout, please call 0845 301 6852 or alternatively please download a copy from the TyreSafe website.