Two in three drivers (68%) do not know the legal minimum tire tread depth for their vehicle. This means an estimated 22 million drivers are unable to check if their vehicle meets a basic safety requirement.
Worn tires pose a huge risk to drivers, passengers and other road users, especially at this time of year when icy and wet weather conditions make roads more dangerous. The tread on tires is essential in helping a driver brake, steer and accelerate. Drivers must be made aware of the importance of regular vehicle maintenance, but currently there is no televised government campaign that addresses this vital issue.
Failure to maintain minimum tire tread depths significantly increases stopping distances. Independent tests on wet roads using a car traveling at 50 mph found:
• On 8mm depth, stopping distance = 25.9 metres
• On 3mm depth, stopping distance = 31.7 metres
• On 1.6mm depth, stopping distance = 39.5 metres
The minimum legal tire tread depth is 1.6mm for cars and vans, although less than 3mm can be dangerous in wet or icy weather.
Regular tire checks are essential for keeping a vehicle safe and drivers are being urged to check their tires weekly and before any long journey. Car drivers should always check:
• Tread depth – tread-wear indicator bars on tyres can be used to ensure tread exceeds the legal minimum, but ideally a special tire tread indicator should be used to ensure there is at least 3mm of tread.
• Tire pressure – using a gauge while tires are cold. The correct pressure is in vehicle handbooks.
• Any other damage – such as cracks, worn patches and bulges. If tires are damaged, drivers should consult their garage immediately.
On Jan. 8, 2006 a driver whose vehicle had three defective tires skidded on an icy road, hitting a group of cyclists in North Wales and killing four of them in a widely publicized tragedy at Rhyl. He was fined £180 for three counts of driving with defective tires and given six penalty points.
Brake is calling on the government to:
• Increase investment in traffic policing and give police powers to carry out random vehicle safety checks;
• Run a high-profile publicity campaign to educate drivers of the correct legal limit and promote the importance of regular tire checks and good vehicle maintenance;
• Raise the minimum legal tread depth to 3mm.
Jools Townsend, head of education at Brake, says: “Many drivers are too reliant on their annual MOT and service and unaware of the deterioration that occurs to their vehicle over the course of a year. Tire tread is such an easy thing to check, yet failure to do so puts drivers, passengers and other road users in danger of death or injury. We are calling on drivers to be vigilant about the condition of their tires, and check them on a weekly basis this winter and throughout the year. The government must invest in a televised public education campaign so drivers know how to ensure their tires are fit for the road.”
Abi Clark, spokesperson for Green Flag Motoring Assistance Breakdown, says: “It is vital that motorists carry out regular maintenance checks on their cars. All drivers should pay particular attention to their tire tread and tire pressure to ensure that they are at the correct level. Ideally, tires should have a 3mm tread and should be maintained with the pressure set at the correct level as shown in their car handbook. If motorists fail to take this advice, they could be putting themselves and others at risk of crashes.”
Survey results in full:
Respondents were asked: What do you think is the minimum legal tire tread depth for the vehicle you drive most often?
• 32% answered correctly
• 58% answered incorrectly
• 10% did not answer (Tire Review/Akron)
