In stark contrast to a steady decline in recent years, the number of people killed or seriously injured in a tyre related accident increased sharply in 2011.
The alarming figures released last month from the Department for Transport, just days ahead of October’s tyre safety month, reveal that 205 people were killed or seriously injured in an accident where illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres were a contributory factor.
“These latest figures are very disturbing, especially given that the number of casualties in all road accidents also rose for the first time in many years. It really does reinforce the need for drivers to regularly inspect their tyres to make sure they are safe and legal. October’s tyre safety month is the perfect opportunity to carry out some basic tyre checks and help put a stop to this needless loss of life,” said Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe.