Tyre safety still remains an important area overlooked by many fleet drivers and organisations.

Perhaps this explains why there were still more than 1,200 road casualties in the UK in 2011 that resulted from accidents where illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres were a contributory factor.

What's more, recent estimates suggest that up to a third of all road traffic accidents in the UK involve at least one person who is driving for work. This shocking statistic equates to more than 200 people killed or seriously injured in a work related driving accident every single week.

Undoubtedly, many of these accidents might have been avoided by just a few simple tyre checks, by the individual driver or the organisation they represent.

Indeed, tyres play a vital role in road safety as they are the only point of contact a car has the road. Basic checks, such as inspecting the air pressure and tyre tread levels plus the tyre's overall condition, can make a crucial difference in how a car performs.

But while safety is paramount, properly maintained tyres can reduce fuel bills and have a longer life.

Tyre safety is the responsibility of everyone, whether it is the individual company car driver or the business they work for.