If you haven’t checked your car’s tyres in a while, do it now.
The Road Safety Authority commissioned a study on the causes of fatal collisions on Irish roads, and an analysis of forensic collision investigations has shown faulty tyres to be accountable for 8% of 858 fatal crashes between 2008 and 2012.
111 lost their lives and there were 30 accounts of serious injury in cases where vehicle defects were noted as a contributory factor.
Although the defects may not have been the sole cause, dangerously worn or under-inflated tyres can be a serious risk to those on the roads.
The largest age group with sub-standard tyres were young drivers aged 17 to 24, and the counties where this occurred most were Donegal, Cork, Kerry and Wexford.
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe told RTÉ the report “highlights just how important it is that every aspect of a vehicle, whether a car, truck, van or motorcycle, is in proper, roadworthy condition.”
“But we can take personal responsibility for ensuring our vehicle is properly maintained so that we can rely on our tyres responding to the conditions as they should or our brakes working when they need to.”
He is also working on bringing in defective tyres as a penalty-points offence.
Tyre upkeep is an integral part of road safety and ensuring your vehicle is roadworthy. In the light of this report, it’s important that everyone check the tyres on their vehicles. The Road Safety Authority has a very handy guide for drivers looking to ensure their tyres are of the correct standard. You can read it here.
