Half of drivers don’t believe that illegal tyres are dangerous
Thu, 27 Apr 2023
More than 50% of drivers don’t believe that driving on illegal tyres is an extremely dangerous act.
That's among the findings of a report released by Bridgestone highlighting the lack of knowledge among UK drivers about the importance of tyre safety.
The report is based on a survey of 2000 drivers and reveals that only 14% of respondents saw tyres as the most important safety feature on their cars, with airbags being deemed more important by 24% of drivers.
The report also showed that despite tyres being the only contact points between a vehicle and the road - and being directly responsible for 491 casualties and 12 deaths in the UK in 2021 - the majority of motorists do not consider them to be as crucial as other safety features.
Only 42% of those surveyed knew what the legal tread limit is (1.6mm) while 54% don’t believe that driving on illegal tyres is an extremely dangerous act.
The survey also revealed that only 31% of drivers consider themselves to be "definitely" well-informed on road safety matters but just 12% check their tyre treads once a fortnight, the recommended period. Meanwhile only 17% of drivers check their tyre pressures once a fortnight.
Bridgestone's North Region Vice President, Andrea Manenti, said: "Our research, coupled with the number of avoidable fatalities on our roads due to defective tyres, tells us that lives continue to be put at risk through a lack of tyre knowledge."
"The survey indicated there seems to be a lack of understanding of the critical role that tyres play on a car, and we at Bridgestone are determined to bring this to the forefront of minds."
Bridgestone is reminding motorists that cars equipped with budget tyres can take an extra 14 metres to stop in wet conditions when driving at 70mph compared to cars with ‘premium brand’ tyres. Under-inflated tyres will also have an impact on stopping distances, as will cars with poorly maintained brakes.
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