Northern Ireland Tyre Safety Week underway
Alarming new statistics from the Department of Transport in Northern Ireland have illustrated the importance of maintaining the standard of tyres.
In the five years running to 2011, 205 people were killed or seriously injured in the UK when illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres were a contributory factor in the accident.
Set against the backdrop of these daunting statistics, the Northern Ireland Tyre Safety Association (NITSA) recently took three identical cars onto the ice at the Odyssey Arena. The only difference in the three cars was that one was using Winter tyres, another had Summer tyres, whilst the last car had Part Worn tyres with 4mm tread depth.
The results of these dramatic tests were filmed and can be viewed on the NITSA website www.nitsa.co.uk. This video is being launched in Northern Ireland as part of Tyre Safety Week 2012 and with support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. A number of activities will be running during Tyre Safety Week to help raise awareness about the serious consequences of poor tyres.
“We would urge everyone who takes their tyre safety seriously to visit the NITSA website and watch this short video”, said Roy Nutt, chairman of the Northern Ireland Tyre Safety Association, “The results speak for themselves as they show how stopping distances are much, much greater on part worn tyres versus the Winter and Summer tyres. The Cornering and Slalom tests also illustrate very clearly how in certain circumstances the Part Worn tyre will not even get you around a corner safely.”
As part of Tyre Safety Week anyone who is concerned about their tyre safety can visit their local NITSA tyre distributor (a full list can be found at www.nitsa.co.uk for a free tyre check to make sure their tyres have sufficient tread and are inflated at the correct pressures.
Welcoming the week long initiative, Inspector G. McComb, Road and Armed Support Branch, PSNI, said:
“So far this Autumn, road conditions have generally been good, but now is the time for drivers to prepare their vehicles for frost, heavy rain and snow. This means checking tyres, windscreen washers, wipers and lights.”
“Tyres in particular must be in good condition having at minimum tread of 1.6 mm to be legal on the road, and to ensure this remains the case, drivers should regularly check the tread depth or ask a dealer to do it for them. To cope with snow 6mm is advisable.
“As part of Tyre Safety week, police patrols will be stopping and checking vehicles for any defects, and if found, drivers will be dealt with by way of advice and warning, the issuing of an order to produce vehicles with replaced tyres, the issue of fixed penalty notices or through prosecution.”
Pictured: L to R. Roy Nutt, chairman of the Northern
Ireland Tyre Safety Association & Inspector
G. McComb, Road and Armed Support Branch, PSNI.