UKROEd lends its support for Tyre Safety Month

UKROEd is proudly supporting Tyre Safety Month, which is taking place throughout October. The theme this year is ‘Caught in the ACT,’ and Tyresafe is encouraging drivers to think about the three vital components of a good tyre: Air pressure, Condition and Tread.

Under-inflated tyres reduce your vehicle’s ability to grip the road, and also compromise handling. This can result in unpredictable vehicle behaviour, and increases the risk of a tyre blowout, where sudden rapid deflation occurs. Over-inflated tyres have a smaller contact area with the road, leading to increased stopping distance and reduced grip. There is likely to be a lot more wear across the central part of the tyre, leading to a shorter lifespan.

Monthly checks do not take long and will confirm that everything is in order with your tyres. If you find a tyre that is wrongly inflated, you can correct it quickly and easily. If your checks show your tread depth is getting low, you can take steps to have the tyre replaced.

The severe penalties imposed by courts on drivers who use worn or defective tyres on their vehicles reflect the risk these actions present. Each bald or defective tyre carries a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points.

“Checking the pressure, condition and tread of all your tyres once a month, every month and before a long journey is excellent advice,” says UKROEd chief executive Ruth Purdie OBE. “If you don’t know what to look for in a safe tyre, then do consult the tyresafe.org website which has plenty of useful information that will help you keep your tyres in the best possible condition as well as assist in identifying potentially dangerous defects.”

UKROEd supports police forces by offering high-quality behaviour change courses as an alternative to prosecution for drivers and riders who meet the appropriate criteria. These courses, which can be taken online or in a physical classroom environments, encourage participants to reflect on their own habits and take more responsibility for their actions on the road.

Tyre Safety Month runs nationwide until 31 October 2024.