9,000 motorists convicted for tyre overlook in 2012

A total of 8,919 motorists in England and Wales were successfully prosecuted for having harmful or defective tyres on their cars in 2012, an average of 170 convictions every week.
According to figures obtained from the Ministry of Justice by TyreSafe, 10,228 chauffeurs found themselves in court for the offence last year.
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TyreSafe is calling on chauffeurs to be much more vigilant when checking the state of their tyres. “These newest figures are extremely worrying and reflect the ongoing challenge that we have in terms of raising the awareness about the significance of driving on safe and legal tyres,” comments Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe.
The organisation claims that with winter season on the way, the most essential element to check is that tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
However, it is also suggesting that chauffeurs look out for other issues including the general condition of the tyres, paying particular attention to any cuts, lumps or bulges, and ensuring that the pressure is correct.
“Regular checks which only take a few minutes to complete ought to be made at least once a month, yet it’s clear from these newest figures that numerous chauffeurs are simply not taking these precautions, risking not only prosecution through the courts but much more importantly, their safety on the road,” Jackson added.