On the back of a landmark report ‘Pre-Crash Report on Vehicle Factors in Fatal Collisions’, the RSA along with Minister for Transport, Paschal Donohoe and the An Garda Síochána have together launched a major tyre safety awareness campaign.
The Reports main findings included the following;
- Of 858 fatal collisions in Ireland between 2008 and 2012, motorised vehicle factors contributed to 101 collisions (12%)
- Vehicle factors were a contributory factor 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% or 66) of collisions
- Defective tyres were more prevalent in single vehicle crashes (74.1%) when compared to multiple vehicle crashes (57.6%)
- 111 people lost their lives and 30 were seriously injured in collisions where vehicle defects were a contributory factor.
- 71 people were killed and 19 were seriously injured in a collision where a vehicle had defective tyres as a contributory factor.
- 18 people were killed and 6 were seriously injured in a collision where a vehicle had defective brakes
- 17-24-year-old drivers accounted for almost half (47%) of fatal collisions involving defective, worn, over or underinflated tyres
- The highest proportion of drivers with defective tyres were in Donegal (18.2%), followed by Cork, Kerry and Wexford (9.1% each)
- Losing control on a bend on a regional road and on a road surface that was dry at the time were typical scenarios noted in the investigation reports
As of April 4th The RSA have launched a TV, radio, cinema & online campaign entitled Grip. The adverts purpose and aim are to make sure people are aware that tyres are the one point of contact their vehicle has with the road surface. See one of these powerful messages delivered in the clip below.
The RSA have issued the following “dos and don’ts” for motorists on RSA.ie;
- Choose the right tyres Choose tyres that are right for the vehicle and the type of driving you do. Talk to a tyre specialist to get advice on the tyres you need. Most tyre manufacturers recommend placing the tyres with the best grip at the rear of the vehicle. Fitting tyres with less grip at the rear of your vehicle can cause oversteer and loss of control. Correctly balanced wheels will ensure smooth and vibration-free drive which will also extend your car’s suspension and steering components.
- Check the tyre depth Make sure the tyre has plenty of tread and is above the legal limit of 1.6mm, check around the whole circumference of the tyre. The tyre is the only part of the vehicle that is in contact with the road. The more tread you have, the greater grip the vehicle has on the road and the safer you’ll be. All tyres have tread depth indicators set into them that are at a depth of 1.6mm. Use this block to see if the tyre has worn to the same level or lower. It is easy to check your tyre depth. The RSA has a handy pop-up gauge that can assist you or call into a local garage and get help. Remember to check the depth in different locations on the tyre
- Keep your tyre at the correct tyre pressure Tyres naturally lose air pressure over time so it’s worth checking your tyres every month. Having the correct tyre pressure helps improve safety, car handling and fuel consumption. You can find your correct tyre pressure on the inside of the fuel door or in the vehicle’s handbook. Don’t forget about the spare wheel or space saver – make sure they are inflated to the correct pressure too.
- Use Space-savers tyres only in an emergency Keep space saver tyres inflated to the pressure indicated on the wheel label and only use over short distances to get your car to a tyre repair centre. Don’t drive more than 80km/hr and be prepared for the car handling to be different when one is fitted on your vehicle.
- Replacing tyres If your tyre has come into contact with a solid object, such as pothole and/or you have noticed uneven wear on your tyre, please go to a tyre specialist to have it examined. Your wheel and axles need to be fully aligned to ensure safe driving and that the car is handling correctly. You may need to replace the tyre. When deciding what new tyre to purchase, please don’t make that decision purely on budget and make sure safety is paramount to your decision making. Car manufacturers recommend that replacement tyres be the same type as those originally fitted to maintain all-round driving performance. Part worn tyres have been previously used and you do not know the road history which that tyre has travelled. Please consider carefully whether you are getting real value for money. In some cases, you would have to buy three sets of part worn tyres in order to get the same life as a new set of tyres
Click to Download the RSA’s ‘Your Guide to Tyre Safety’ Article content source: RSA.ie For full details of the report and campaign launch click here. Remember Stay SAFE! Sooner or Later You’ll use Tyreland! Tyreland has 7 Tyre Depots located around Dublin City and Meath and offer the most competitive deals on cheap tyres in Dublin. Our industry experts are always available for advice and love to help people out. Contact us today on 01 860 20 20 or here.
