New figures from the National Travel Survey underline a critical safety concern: tyres. Cars remain the dominant mode of travel in the UK, accounting for 59% of all trips and 73% of total distance travelled, with an average annual mileage of 6,082 miles per vehicle. With 78% of households owning at least one car, the scale of vehicle use—and the importance of tyre safety—cannot be overstated.
According to a recent UCAS report, 439,180 students across the UK have been accepted into universities, which means students will be preparing to hit the road to start or return to their studies this September and October. Due to rising living costs, and eyewatering rental expenses, a growing proportion may opt to travel to and from campus each day.
Yet despite their central role in daily life, tyre neglect continues to pose a serious road safety risk. According to the Reported Road Casualties GB Report, 152 people are killed or seriously injured each year in incidents linked to defective tyres—on par with mobile phone-related crashes. Alarmingly, 2023 saw a 29% increase in KSI casualties related to tyre defects compared to 2022, the highest level since 2018.
Further analysis of data, by the Transport Research Laboratory, shows that 75% of tyre defects in fatal crashes are caused by basic lack of maintenance—a preventable factor. Vehicle testing also highlights the scale of the issue: over two million MOT failures annually are due to tyre defects, with one million tyres classified as dangerous.
Even more concerning, 36% of vehicles failing MOTs, equating to 750,00 of the 2.1 million inspected, for tyre defects in 2023 had previously received a warning—yet those advisories were ignored. Defective tyres are the fourth most common reason for MOT advisories, and nearly 60% of those tyres are classified as dangerous.
Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said: “For students, driving to and from university can be a rite of passage—but it should never be a risk to life. The National Travel Survey shows just how car-dependent we are. With millions of vehicles on the road and high annual mileage, tyre safety isn’t just a formality—it’s essential. The rise in casualties linked to defective tyres is alarming, especially when three-quarters could be prevented with simple checks. We urge all drivers, and especially students travelling long distances, to ACT responsibly: check your Air pressure, Condition, and Tread depth. It takes just a few minutes and could save lives.”
TyreSafe is calling on all students and road users to make tyre safety a priority. Simple checks of tread depth, pressure, and overall condition can prevent incidents and keep journeys safe. Guidance on how to carry out a quick tyre check is available here.
