On April 4 of this year, the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland (HSA), together with the Road Safety Authority (RSA), has launched a tyre safety campaign, focusing on the importance of keeping tyres in good conditions as an essential part of guaranteeing vehicle safety in all road and weather conditions.
Tyres are usually “not on the radar” and people think about them only at specific times of the year—winter, typically—but fail to check them regularly. For fleets it is essential that tyres are checked regularly, and there should be an effective system or program in place that caters for the management of tyres, since it not only boosts safety but there is the added bonus of reduced fuel consumption.
Apparently, tyres and their management are not given enough importance: according to RSA and HSA sources, tyres were a contributory factor in accidents which involved 14 deaths a year on average. Here are some even more alarming stats:
- Of 858 fatal collisions in Ireland between 2008 and 2012, motorised vehicle factors contributed to 101 collisions (12%)
- Vehicle factors were a contributory cause in 12% of all collisions. Of these, tyres were the main contributory factor—accounting for 8%.
- Of collisions where vehicle factors were noted, the condition of tyres accounted for almost two thirds (64.1%) of collisions
- Defective tyres were more prevalent in single vehicle crashes (74.1%) when compared to multiple vehicle crashes (57.6%)
Here is the provocative video from the “Grip” campaign, where we see a man lose his grip with everyone close to him, in a frame that spins, as tyres do, (or as a car that has been flipped does). It’s a disorientating journey, showing just what our man has lost. And a striking reminder that we all need to check our tyres to make sure we don’t lose grip on everything that matters to us. Check your tyres regularly.
The campaign has the RSA setting out a reminder on what is necessary to check regularly when managing tyres:
- Check tyres have the correct inflation pressure in order to support the vehicle;
- Check wheel alignment and balancing—there should never be vibrations in your steering wheel;
- Tyres displaying signs of deterioration should not be used on the road;
- Tyres older than 10 years should be replaced, including spare tyres, even if they appear to be serviceable.
When a tyre has been in use, the effects of aging are lessened to a degree, so tyres that have been in storage should not be placed into use if more than six years old. The effects of aging may be brought on prematurely, depending on such factors as load, speed, inflation pressure and maintenance.
