GARDAÍ have issued a reminder to motorists to ensure that their tyres are roadworthy ahead of the winter season.
Today is ‘Tyre Safety Day’, as part of Irish Road Safety Week.
Defective tyres are linked to 14 deaths annually, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) warns.
Motorists are being encouraged to visit any ITIA (Irish Tyre Industry Association) dealer nationwide for a free tyre safety check. Find your local tyre expert here: https://bit.ly/3tti74G
An Garda Síochána, The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA), have teamed up to promote the initiative.
Speaking today, Chief Superintendent Mick Hennebry from the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said: “Defective tyres pose a serious risk to all road users. Gardaí regularly deal with collisions in which people are killed or suffer serious life-changing injuries. Some of these collisions involve people driving with defective tyres. Such collisions can be avoided if you ensure your vehicle is roadworthy and you drive at a safe speed. Ensuring you have appropriate tyres on your car will make the roads safer for all road users. Members of Roads Policing Units across the country will be mounting roadside checks, checking tyres on vehicles in conjunction with Road Safety Authority Vehicle Inspectors on Tyre Safety Day, Wednesday 6 October 2021. If you are found to be driving a vehicle with defective tyres you could risk up to 4 penalty points if convicted and a fixed penalty of up to €120.”
Between 31 August 2020 to 1 September 2021 a total of 1,392,488 full NCT tests were completed, 107,012 (7.68%) received a fail result on tyres, this included 35,871 (2.57%) receiving a fail dangerous result as the tyre tread was less than 1.6mm.
Sam Waide, Chief Executive of the RSA, said: “Based on our analysis of Garda forensic road collision reports we estimate that defective tyres could be a contributory factor in as many one in ten fatal crashes annually, resulting in approximately 14 deaths each year. We are calling on motorists to ‘get a grip’ when it comes to tyre safety, don’t wait for your NCT to check if your tyres are roadworthy. Conduct a regular walk-around of your car and check your tyres. Check the tread depth, look for cuts, cracks, or bulges. Take your car to the local forecourt or ITIA dealer and check the pressure. If your vehicle’s tyres show signs of deterioration, you should have them replaced immediately.”
Sue O’Neill, CEO, Irish Tyre Industry Association, said: “Irish Tyre Industry Association members are experts in tyre health and road worthiness. They can give drivers the peace of mind that their vehicle is safe on the road. By simply taking a few minutes out of your day, you can have your tyres checked and replaced if necessary. During Irish Road Safety Week our members are offering free tyre checks so don’t wait until your NCT comes around to check the roadworthiness of your tyres, do it today. To find your nearest ITIA registered dealer nationwide, visit www.itia.ie.”
Welcoming ‘Tyre Safety Day’ Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Ms. Hildegarde Naughton said, “It is important that drivers take action to ensure the tyres on their vehicles are fit for purpose. This is especially important as the winter months approach, and we face into poor weather conditions. For example, driving in wet or icy conditions can lead to loss of grip and increased risk of skidding, especially when driving on defective tyres. Motorists should keep tyre pressure at the manufacturer’s recommended level and not let them get worn below the legal tread depth of 1.6mm for cars and 1mm for motorcycles.”
To date in 2021 a total of 108 lives have been lost on the road. This is down nine compared to the same date last year.
