Parents taking to the school run next week should first carry out vital tyre checks to keep their families safe. Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone warns that its latest research shows 63% of motorists will wait until their car fails its MOT before replacing tyres. Meanwhile 11% admit to driving on bald, illegal tyres before replacing them. With millions of parents set to take their children to and from the school gates next week, Bridgestone says the time is right to uncover this often-hidden danger. More information on how to keep your tyres safe is available on Bridgestone’s website.
(Photo: Bridgestone)
Of the 2,000 drivers surveyed, a quarter said they never think about the risks of unroadworthy tyres, while cost pressures are also leading some to delay essential replacements. More than a third admitted putting off buying new tyres because of financial concerns. National statistics from TyreSafe’s Tread Depth Survey suggest that 6.1 million tyres could be driven illegally each year, while more than 2 million MOT failures are caused by tyre defects – a million of which are classed as dangerous.
Bridgestone’s UK senior marketing manager, Helen Roe, said: “Tyres are the only part of a car that touches the road, and yet they remain one of the most neglected safety components. With the school run back in full swing, we want to remind parents that simple tyre checks could make the difference between a safe journey and a dangerous one. Life is a journey – let’s make it a safe one.”
Bridgestone has already carried out more than 5,000 free tyre inspections in communities across the UK through its Be a Bridgestone Road Safety Hero campaign over the past 18 months, which is designed to make checking tyres easier and to raise awareness of their importance. The company is urging parents to take three simple steps before setting off on the school run: check tyre pressures, measure tread depth, and seek professional advice if in doubt.
Roe added: “We all want our children to get to school safely, and tyres play a huge role in that. By taking just a few minutes to check them each month, parents can make sure their family is better protected on every journey.”
