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Company car drivers accumulating enough points may have their licences withdrawn, and therefore face the prospect of losing their job as well.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