Registration open for tyre safety month campaign materials

Published 16th August 2010

Building on the success of last year’s campaign, this year’s activities will focus on family audiences, highlighting the simplicity of checking tyre tread depth with a 20p coin.

"Last year we introduced the 20p test which gives drivers a really quick and simple way to check if their tyre tread is safe and legal," explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. "We received fantastic feedback from the campaign so this year we have developed it further to specifically target families where many still do not realise just how simple and important tread depth checks are."

Materials available to the trade include a selection of posters for reception and waiting room areas, leaflets, website banner ads and a DVD giving an entertaining guide on how to perform the 20p test.

By inserting a 20p coin into the main grooves of a tyre, drivers have a good indication of whether they have sufficient and legal tread depth. If the outer rim of the coin is visible when placed into the main tread grooves, the tyres may be illegal and should be checked by a qualified professional. Current UK law requires drivers to have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tyre, around its whole circumference. Drivers failing to meet these requirements face fines of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre.

"The memory of being stranded in their cars during the bad weather last winter is still very fresh in the minds of many families," adds Jackson. "Tyre safety month will provide garages with a timely opportunity to remind drivers about how simple and important it is to make sure that their car has sufficient tread depth for the wet weather to come."

In addition to providing campaign materials to the trade, TyreSafe is encouraging other organisations, particularly those with large fleets, to become involved and promote tyre safety to their own staff and customers. Last year organisations that took materials included many county councils, fire services and driving schools.

Useful Links

TyreSafe – www.tyresafe.org

Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards - www.roadsafetyawards.com

European Road Safety Charter - www.erscharter.eu/signatories/profile/13459

YouTube - www.youtube.com/user/TyreSafe


Notes
TyreSafe is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of the dangers of defective and worn tyres. TyreSafe has campaigned consistently to underline the importance of tyre safety for more than 15 years and was rewarded with the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award in 2001.

TyreSafe receives positive support from many major tyre manufacturers and retailers, and has been credited with reducing the number of defective tyres in the UK over the past decade from 18% to 12%.
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.

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