Defective tyre prosecutions hits seven year high
The number of drivers successfully prosecuted by courts in England and Wales for driving on defective tyres has risen by 14 percent to more than 4,300 convictions. The information, which relates to 2008, has been released by the Ministry of Justice in response to a parliamentary question by Stoke-on-Trent MP, Tristram Hunt. The figure is a seven year high, up from a low of 3,595 convictions in 2006. “Many drivers have the misconception that the police are too busy or too stretched to stop and prosecute them for driving on illegal tyres,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “These latest figures show this is clearly not the case and that the court system still considers driving on illegal tyres a very serious offence.” Current UK law requires car drivers to have a minimum of 1.6mm tread depth across the central three quarters of the tyre, around its entire circumference. Drivers who fail to comply with the regulations face a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre. “We fully support the police’s efforts in clamping down on this dangerous behaviour and would encourage all drivers to take a few minutes every month to check their tyre’s tread depth, pressure and general condition,” continues Jackson. “Not only could the checks save you from a court prosecution, it could help save your life.” The information has been released just days ahead of October’s tyre safety month which is educating drivers about the importance and simplicity of checking tyre tread depth. Drivers who are unsure about how to check the condition of their tyres can visit one of the many hundreds of garages and tyre retailers who are offering free tyre safety checks as part of tyre safety month. Alternatively, visit the TyreSafe website (www.tyresafe.org) for more information and advice. Ministry of Justice data for convictions in 2009 is planned for publication on 21 October 2010. Notes Full details of the Ministry of Justice response can be found by visiting www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-09-13b.13560.h. However, the number of defendants found guilty at all courts for the offence defective tyres, England and Wales 1999 to 2008 is as follows: Year Found Guilty 2008 4,317 2007 3,774 2006 3,595 2005 3,940 2004 4,250 2003 3,893 2002 4,249 2001 4,823 2000 6,227 1999 8,432 TyreSafe is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of the dangers of defective and worn tyres. In 2009, TyreSafe was awarded with the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award in recognition of its achievements in raising awareness about the dangers associated with driving on defective and worn tyres. TyreSafe supports the government’s ACT ON CO2 campaign which promotes Smarter Driving tips to help cut CO2 emissions from driving. TyreSafe is a signatory to the European Road Safety Charter which was launched in 2004 with the aim of halving the number of deaths on European roads by 2010. Useful Links TyreSafe – www.tyresafe.org Twitter – www.twitter.com/tyresafe YouTube - www.youtube.com/user/TyreSafe Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards - www.roadsafetyawards.com European Road Safety Charter - www.erscharter.eu/signatories/profile/13459 Parliamentary response - www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-09-13b.13560.h PR Contact Danny Rughoobeer Red Marlin danny@redmarlin.co.uk T 01926 333245 M 07739 878365
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