Solicitors firm warns drivers to check their tyres or face prosecution

National Law Firm, Ashworth Motoring Law is running a campaign to raise awareness of tyre safety and highlight the dangers of driving on defective tyres. The campaign backs national tyre safety month which runs throughout October.

Ashworth Motoring Law, which specialises in representing drivers who are facing the possible loss of their driving licence is reminding drivers to check their tyres or face prosecution or an accident.

The campaign follows figures released by TyreSafe which show that over one in four cars and vans are driven on Britain’s roads with illegal and dangerous tyres.

According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, 2.2 million cars fail the MoT due to tyre-related defects, and figures from the highways agency indicate that an annual average of 1135 casualties are caused by tyre-related incidents with 198 of those incidents resulting in serious injury or death.

Managing Director of Ashworth Motoring Law, Alison Ashworth said “Driving on defective tyres is extremely dangerous and risks lives. Many drivers forget to perform basic checks, taking for granted that their tyres are safe. Being caught with defective tyres would result in a fine of up to £2500 and three penalty points per tyre. A person could ‘tot-up’ 12 points and face a 6-month driving ban if all of their tyres were defective”.

The legal tread depth is 1.6mm and can be checked by inserting a 20p into the tyre’s tread groove and assessing whether the outer rim can be seen. The condition and pressure of tyres should also be checked on a regular basis.

Alison, who regularly appears on TV and on the Radio discussing motoring law related issues continued “Now that the seasons are changing, it’s crucial to ensure that our tyres are safe and ready for the harsh conditions of winter. We are advising drivers, ‘don’t chance it, check it’.”

In support of tyre safety month, many local retailers are offering a free tyre health check throughout October in an attempt to get illegal and dangerous tyres off the road. To find a local dealer offering a free tyre health check visit tyresafe.org.

For more information, or to contact Ashworth Motoring Law in relation to a motoring law issue, call the local rate helpline on 0330 22 770, email enquiries@ashworthmotoringlaw.co.uk or visit ashworthmotoringlaw.co.uk.