A worryingly high number of company car drivers may be driving illegally and risking serious injury after a survey by TyreSafe, a partner to the Driving for Better Business campaign.

Source:  www.roadsafe.com

It found that an alarming 25% of company car drivers had never checked the depth of their tyre tread and a further 41% had not checked them within the last six months.

Both companies and employees have responsibility for tyre safety on fleet vehicles and those not making the necessary checks face fines and other penalties.

“As part of their health and safety obligations, companies should make sure that drivers understand their own individual responsibility towards tyre checks,” said Stuart Jackson, TyreSafe chairman.

“Company car drivers typically cover around 20,000 miles per year, almost double that of private motorists so it is particularly important that they pay attention to their tyres.

Our 20p lifesaver here is a really quick and simple way of seeing if your tyres have enough tread to be safe and legal. By performing these checks just once a month, we believe the number of work-related accidents and cost to UK businesses can be dramatically reduced.”

Current UK law states that tread on car tyres must be a minimum of 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tread, around its entire circumference. Drivers found in breach of this law face a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre.

Company car drivers accumulating enough points may have their licences withdrawn, and therefore face the prospect of losing their job as well.

 

BADDIA wish to further remind drivers that other research shows that vehicles are at much greater risk of aquaplaning when tyre tread depth wears down to 3mm.  The rate of tyre wear also accelerates from this point in a tyre’s life cycle.

 

Comments please from driving instructors and driving schools who are BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) members giving driving lessons, Pass Plus, a2om BTEC in Driving Science, advanced lessons, automatic lessons, disabled lessons, towing lessons, refresher courses, motorway lessons, fleet training, instructor training, in preparation for driving tests or driver improvement in the Bedford area

 

 

Speed limits on rural single-carriageways must reflect the ‘risk of the road’ to give drivers a clear signal of the hazards they face, says The Road Safety Foundation – which manages the work of the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP) in the UK and Ireland.

Source – www.roadsafe.com

Speaking at the RoadSafe supported 3^rd Annual Road Safety Expo in London on 12 November, Dr Joanne Hill, director of the Road Safety Foundation, and John Dawson, Chairman of EuroRAP, highlighted the need to take action to reduce road deaths and serious injuries, and give broad support to a reduction of speed limits from 60mph to 50mph.

 As part of its own campaign to help road users to gain greater understanding of the relative dangers of different types of route, the Road Safety Foundation is currently running an online survey to find out how much drivers know about road safety and what action they take to keep themselves safe.

 

The Road Safety Foundation will, next month, announce its star-rating of the Highways Agency’s A-road network. Dr Hill says: “We will work with government – and local authorities – to make sure that road users are made aware of high risk roads; the timescales for remedial action; and how effective that action will be.

 

Comments please from driving instructors and driving schools who are BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) members giving driving lessons, Pass Plus, a2om BTEC in Driving Science, advanced lessons, automatic lessons, disabled lessons, towing lessons, refresher courses, motorway lessons, fleet training, instructor training, in preparation for driving tests or driver improvement in the Bedford area

18 year-old Scott Brooks has become the third and final winner of the Coventry and Warwickshire Young Driver of the Year competition, and has won a Peugeot 107 for his efforts.

Source:  www.carkeys.co.uk

As in previous years, the competition has been organised by Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council, the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) and the Institute of Advanced Motorists, and sponsored by Peugeot, whose UK base is in Coventry. Fifty drivers were short-listed, from hundreds of entrants, and asked to attend a driving day at MIRA’s test facility which involved a theory test, an assessed drive and car control activities.

The top twelve were asked back for a further day of challenges at MIRA, and Scott – who recently passed the IAM’s advanced driving test – was judged to be the winner.

“I’m so pleased I entered the competition,” he said afterwards. “I’ve won a fabulous brand new Peugeot 107, had a lot of fun on the driving days and got some really useful advice and feedback on my driving from the MIRA and IAM instructors. It’s been a great experience.

“I’d recommend all drivers to take some form of further or advanced driver training. I don’t think you are ever too young or too old to learn more and become a safer and better driver.”

 

Comments please from driving instructors and driving schools who are BADDIA (Bedford and District Driving Instructors Association) members giving driving lessons, Pass Plus, a2om BTEC in Driving Science, advanced lessons, automatic lessons, disabled lessons, towing lessons, refresher courses, motorway lessons, fleet training, instructor training, in preparation for driving tests or driver improvement in the Bedford area