Drivers are being encouraged to ‘tread’ carefully and prioritise tyre safety to keep safe, save money, and mitigate risks on the roads this October.
As part of this year’s Tyre Safety Month, TyreSafe, the UK’s tyre safety charity has announced the launch of its ‘Safe and Save’ campaign which is supported by the Cleveland Road Safety Partnership.
The campaign, running throughout October, will educate and empower motorists to prioritise tyre maintenance, save money, and reduce risks associated with driving on underinflated tyres. The campaign is a timely reminder of the simple, but effective behaviours motorists can exhibit to make meaningful savings.
Andy Corcoran, Chair of the Cleveland Road Safety Partnership, commented on the campaign’s launch, saying: “We are excited to support the ‘Safe and Save’ campaign, which cleverly combines a light-hearted approach with a serious mission. Through this campaign, we aim to reach motorists across all segments and emphasise the significance of regular tyre checks. By doing so, not only can they save on fuel and tyre wear costs, but also contribute to safer roads for everyone.”
Cleveland Fire Brigade alongside members of the Cleveland Road Safety Partnership, which is made up of local authorities, Police and National Highways will be promoting this vitally important road safety campaign at Teesside Retail Park on Friday 6th October between 9am and 3pm. Drivers are encouraged to come along and get some useful advice on tyre safety and help contribute to improving safety on our roads.
Andrew Bright, Learn and Live Coordinator at Cleveland Fire Brigade said “Getting into the habit of regularly checking your vehicle tyres is vitally important, having the correct tyre pressure helps stability, braking efficiency and even fuel consumption. Although many cars now have tyre pressure monitoring this does not remove the need to do a visual check for tread wear or any foreign objects lodged in the tread that could cause a puncture or blowout. Stuck on a busy road with a flat tyre puts you in a very vulnerable position and having a sudden blow out could result in very serious consequences. We are appealing to all motorist to get behind this campaign and ACT.”
TyreSafe estimates that UK motorists waste a staggering average of £1 billion each year on fuel due to driving on underinflated tyres. This wastage not only impacts motorists’ wallets but also puts them at a higher risk of accidents and blowouts. The “Safe and Save” campaign aims to reverse this trend by encouraging drivers to check their tyres at least once a month, highlighting the critical link between tyre safety, saving money, and potentially saving lives.
The campaign champions the ‘A.C.T’ acronym, urging drivers to check their air pressure, condition and tread.
Air pressure – Driving with air pressures below or above the recommended settings can compromise fuel efficiency by too much or too little of the tyre being in contact with the road, increasing rolling resistance and in turn fuel consumption. The correct tyre pressure settings for your vehicle can be found in the owner’s handbook, in the door shut or fuel filler cap, and drivers should use an accurate gauge to check all four tyres.
Condition – Drivers should also check the tread depth of their tyres. The minimum legal tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm, but if your tyres are approaching or below 2mm, is it worth considering a change ahead of wintry conditions, because the tyres’ tread not only clears water from the road but also provides some grip in ice and snow. Drivers can use a 20p piece as a guide by inserting the coin at different points across the tread pattern and around the circumference. If any of the coin’s rim is visible, have a professional check the tyre.
Tread – Finally, drivers are advised to perform a thorough visual inspection on all four tyres, looking out for cuts, lumps or bulges, which could indicate internal damage and should be checked by a tyre professional. Drivers are also advised to carefully remove stones or foreign objects stuck in the tyres’ grooves.
