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Tyre safety is all too often overlooked by fleet drivers and organisations. Estimates suggest that up to a third of all road traffic accidents in the UK involve at least one person who is driving for work.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This shocking statistic equates to more than 200 people killed or seriously injured in a work-related driving accident every single week.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/XUpjyJTj6cI”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1596124875841{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 40px !important;border-top-color: #ededed !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #ededed !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 1px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1735″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″]

[vc_column_text]With over 1 million new cars being registered each year by fleets and businesses, fleet car tyre safety is important for both safety and economic reasons. If you care about your fleets, your business and your staff you need to know why tyre pressures matter.

Many of incidents can be avoided on the roads by carrying out just a few simple tyre checks before departing. Indeed, tyres play a vital role in road safety as they are the only point of contact a car has the road. Basic checks, such as inspecting the air pressure and tyre tread levels plus the tyre’s overall condition, can make a crucial difference in how a car performs. But while safety is paramount, properly maintained tyres can reduce fuel bills and have a longer life. Tyre safety is the responsibility of everyone, whether it is the individual company car driver or the business they work for.

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[vc_column_text]Correct tyre pressures play a critical role in maximising fuel efficiency, and with fuel prices remaining high, it’s never been more important to ensure that your fleet’s tyres are set to the correct levels.

When tyres are underinflated, their rolling resistance increases and they need more energy to make them turn. This additional demand means fuel consumption and in turn the car’s running cost increases. Tyres that are just 20% underinflated can reduce fuel economy by 3%, adding unnecessary extra cost to your business. If your fleets cover a lot of miles, that’s a lot of wasted money.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″]

[vc_column_text]Example of how much underinflated tyres could cost:

• Average fuel consumption = 36.2MP
• Annual mileage 20,000 miles
• Cost on correctly inflated tyres = £3325.51
• Running on 20% underinflated tyres raises fuel costs by 3% = £106.91
• Cost of underinflated tyres for a fleet of 100 cars = £10,691 per year

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[vc_column_text]More importantly, under inflated tyres can also reduce drivers’ safety. A reduction in tyre pressure (20% or 6 psi which is typical in fleet cars) will lead to a reduction in handling, grip and control. On the roads, this can lead to tyre-related incidents, injury or in the worst case fatalities.

Low tyre pressures can cost your business money, and lives.

You must ensure you have a robust trye maintenance policy and ask your staff to check their tyres at least once a month and before long journeys.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″]

[vc_column_text]Businesses providing cars for use by their employees while at work must adhere to a number of laws and regulations. The Health and Safety Act requires organisations to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of all employees while at work, which includes the vehicles being used. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, organisations also have a responsibility to manage health and safety effectively, which includes a periodical review of the risk assessment procedures to ensure they remain appropriate. Additionally, UK courts now also have greater authority to prosecute businesses under the Health and Safety Offences Act for committing offences such as fitting illegal tyres or faulty brakes, with a maximum penalty of £20,000.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1725380064150{padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 40px !important;background-color: #F1F1F1 !important;border-radius: 1px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″] [vc_column_text css=””]Fleet operators have a duty of care to their drivers and must ensure they are provided with a safe working environment, including the provision of safe and roadworthy vehicles.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″] [vc_column_text]Drivers with illegal tyres face a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per tyre. The driver of the car also has the responsibility to ensure that the car, including its tyres, is in a roadworthy condition every time they get behind the wheel. This is regardless of whether the vehicle is owned by the employer, a lease company or a private motorist.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1725380052488{background-color: #FFFFFF !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″] [vc_column_text css=””]

To be effective, a tyre safety policy must be fully integrated within the other health and safety at work policies, and in particular, to any driving at work policies.

Some pointers to consider:[/vc_column_text]

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Does the health and safety policy statement cover work related road safety and the provision, maintenance or inspection of vehicles and their tyres?

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Is there a commitment to work related road safety including tyre safety from the very top of the organisation? Are individual’s responsibilities clearly defined and communicated accordingly? Do people who have responsibilities for implementation of the policy have sufficient authority to exert influence?

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Is the organisation sufficiently integrated and structured to allow effective implementation of a tyre safety policy including maintenance, inspections, training and communication?

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Are suitable systems in place to manage a tyre safety policy effectively? Are vehicle’s tyres checked at regular intervals by persons who have undergone suitable training to qualify them for this?

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What activities does the organisation perform to monitor the effectiveness of the tyre and work related road safety policies? Does it collect and review sufficient information to make informed decisions about the safety of drivers and future policy changes?

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