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Motorists are being urged to think about their driving this winter to ensure their safety and the safety of other road users. The campaign is highlighting the dangerous combination of driving too fast for the conditions with worn tyres and travelling too close to the vehicle in front. These factors increase the stopping distance for a vehicle, especially during wet and wintery weather.
Tayside Safety Camera Partnership has joined forces with Michelin, ATS Euromaster and Angus Tyres in asking people to check their tyres, reduce their speed and keep their distance when driving in the region.
Free ice scrappers with a built in tyre tread depth measure are being provided at branches of ATS Euromaster, in Dundee, Perth and Forfar and also Angus Tyres, in Arbroath, Brechin and Montrose, to aid people in clearing their windscreens and checking their tread. Information is also being displayed to remind drivers of the simple actions that will increase their safety.
Arron Duncan, Partnership Manager said, “Motorists need to ask themselves, could they stop if they needed to? If they are driving too fast for the weather conditions, and driving too close to the vehicle in front with low tread on their tyres then they are not giving themselves time to react and stop. ”Stopping distances are doubled in the wet and up to ten times greater in icy conditions and when you add speed to this, then people are increasing the risk to themselves and other road users by not being able to stop in time. ”
Wet roads, cold temperatures, snow and ice can all contribute to potentially dangerous situations such as loss of grip, aquaplaning and longer stopping distances. It’s important that tyres are in good condition and drivers reduce their speed to suit the road and weather conditions.
With many drivers experiencing significant problems during last year's extreme winter, this speed and tyre safety campaign aims to ensure that drivers think ahead and do the simple yet important things to increase their safety. The Safety Camera Partnership are reminding drivers about the importance of adequate tread depth and a reduction in speed and how it can make the difference when needed.
Ian Peart, Head of Personnel at Michelin, said, “Tyres may not always be the first thing you think of when it comes to vehicle safety, but tyres form the only link between your vehicle and the road. In fact your safety (and that of your passengers) actually relies on an area of contact between the tyre and road surface which is no bigger than the palm of your hand – certainly something to bear in mind the next time you get behind the wheel!“
He added, “In addition to grip, tyres also support the weight of the vehicle and provide drive and directional control. To Michelin, as a market leader, safety and quality are key components of our tyres. Michelin supports the UN’s Decade of Road Safety and the Tayside Safety Camera Partnership’s tread depth and speed initiative is an excellent opportunity for motorists to check their tyres, which is especially important during the winter months.”
Graeme Annandale, Owner of Angus Tyres, said, “We are pleased to support this tyre and speed road safety campaign, and by providing our customers with ice scrappers and a tyre tread depth gauge we are helping them to prepare for driving in the adverse weather. The simple idea of slowing down and allowing both the space and time in which to stop is something that all drivers can do in addition to paying attention to their tyres and this campaign is an important reminder of this. If drivers are unsure about tyre maintenance for any reason, then I would encourage them to take advantage of free tyre checks to be safe.“
Drivers are responsible for both the condition of their tyres and the speed at which they choose to drive. Failure to comply with the speed limits and the legal minimum tyre tread depth can result in fines of up to £2,500 and three penalty points, with potentially 3 points for each illegal tyre. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, but drivers need to be aware that wet grip deteriorates significantly at tread depths below 3mm.
For further information on the campaign see the road safety campaigns page on Winter Driving |
