News & Events

Northern Ireland Focuses on Tyre Safety
Two of the longest running tyre safety campaigns in the UK, the Scottish and Northern Ireland events, have maintained their success and once again underlined the dangers of driving with defective or bald tyres.

The Northern Ireland Tyre Safety initiative once again received strong police support with roadside tyre checks arranged for three days during the campaign. Tyre companies and retailers financially supported a radio advertising campaign on key radio stations in the Province.

The industry, through the TIC, also supported an important safety initiative linked to the campaign through the Police Service of Northern Ireland. A winter driving leaflet prepared by the police providing tips for driving in winter conditions including a section on tyre safety was funded by the industry and made available through all government offices and importantly it will be mailed over the coming three months with vehicle tax renewal reminders to 300,000 drivers in Northern Ireland.

The campaign was also supported by the tyre trade in Northern Ireland with tyre safety clinics and the offer of free tyre checks at tyre retailers supporting the initiative.

Scotland – The Longest Running Regional Tyre Safety Campaign
The Scottish road safety industry has always strongly supported the annual Tyre Safety Week in November and this year was no exception. The campaign was launched by a ‘down the line’ radio campaign with TIC’s Ken Malcolm undertaking radio interviews which resulted in 45 items of coverage reaching over 8000,000 Scottish radio listeners to promote the initiative.

The campaign was officially launched at a road safety event offering free tyre safety checks arranged for the second year at the Fort Shopping Centre on the outskirts of Glasgow. Major retailers and tyre companies worked together and examined over 240 cars and their tyres with interesting results. Some 17% of cars had at least one defective tyre and a further 11% had a worn tyre – between 1.6mm and 2mm. In reality some 28% of cars checked were in need of a tyre replacement for safety reasons says the TIC.

Further tyre safety clinics were arranged by road safety officers at Ford Kinneard in Edinburgh, Pier Car Park, Helensburgh, the Council Car Park in Dumbarton and at Buchanan Galleries Car Park in Glasgow.

In addition the event received support from the Strathclyde Police and other organisations including St Andrews Ambulance, Road Safety Scotland and Glasgow City Council.