‘Take the pledge’ that could save your life
As part of this October’s tyre safety month, TyreSafe has launched a potentially life-saving pledge on its Facebook page - www.facebook.com/tyresafeuk - that is designed to help keep drivers safe on the roads this winter.
Visitors to the site will be asked to commit to taking ‘the 20p pledge’ which means they agree to check their tyre tread depth using a 20p coin within the next seven days. After taking the pledge, their commitment will then be shared with their Facebook friends asking them to do similar.
Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe, said: “The 20p pledge is a great way for drivers to check their tread depth and ensure that they are safe and legal as we head towards the wettest months of the year.
“Adequate tread is essential in providing better grip and shorter stopping distances in the wet, as well as helping to reduce the risk of aquaplaning. Those taking the pledge are demonstrating their commitment to safer driving which hopefully might help reduce the number of tyre related accidents on our roads.”
Sufficient tread depth is critical to safe motoring. The tread grooves are carefully designed to remove water from the road surface and keep the tyre in contact with the road. If the tread grooves are not deep enough, water cannot be moved resulting in a loss of grip and traction which can lead to longer stopping distances, reduced handling and an increased likelihood of aquaplaning.
But the good news is that the 20p test is quick and easy to perform. A 20p coin is simply inserted into the main grooves of the tyre to check the tread depth. If the outer band of the coin is visible when inserted, then the tyre may not have sufficient depth and should be checked by a qualified specialist.
“Although the 20p test is incredibly quick and easy to carry out, we’ve also added a short animation to show how it’s done. It’s available to watch on our Facebook page, so there’s every opportunity to get involved and do the test,” added Jackson.
For more information about TyreSafe and tyre safety, visit www.tyresafe.org.
Notes
TyreSafe is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of correct tyre maintenance and 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 aims to reduce road fatalities.
TyreSafe is a supporter of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety which aims to make roads safer and save lives.
Useful Links
TyreSafe – www.tyresafe.org
Twitter – www.twitter.com/tyresafe @TyreSafe
Facebook – www.facebook.com/tyresafeuk
YouTube - www.youtube.com/user/TyreSafe
Flickr – www.flickr.com/tyresafe
PR Contact
Danny Rughoobeer
Red Marlin
danny@redmarlin.co.uk
T 01926 333245
M 07739 878365
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