Alarming new figures obtained from the Ministry of Justice in the UK reveal that on average, more than 170 motorists were convicted every week in 2012 for driving on defective tyres at magistrates’ courts in England and Wales.<\/p>\n
In total, some 10,228 car owners found themselves in court simply because their tyres were in a dangerous or defective condition, with 8,919 successful prosecutions taking place.<\/p>\n
“These latest figures are incredibly worrying and reflect the ongoing challenge that we have in terms of raising the awareness about the importance of driving on safe and legal tyres,” comments Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “Regular checks which only take a few minutes to complete should be made at least once a month, yet it’s clear from these latest figures that many drivers are simply not taking these precautions, risking not only prosecution through the courts but more importantly, their safety on the road.”<\/p>\n
One of the most essential items for drivers to check, particularly as we approach the wettest months of the year, is that their tyres meet the minimum legal tread depth. Car tyres must have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread depth across the central three-quarters of the tyre, around its entire circumference.<\/p>\n