Tyre safety success in south Cumbria

Officers from Cumbria Constabulary’s Collision Investigation Unit have been running a series of vehicle stop checks in the Kendal and Barrow areas during October as part of the ‘darker nights’ initiative.

The initiative aims to raise awareness of the need to ensure that  vehicles are maintained and prepared for the darker nights and deteriorating driving conditions as winter approaches.

During the checks, vehicle tyres were examined and drivers were given advice regarding the importance of monitoring tyre condition. All the drivers stopped were issued with a tyre depth gauge and key ring provided by TyreSafe, who work in partnership with police to promote tyre safety.

Nearly a hundred vehicles were stopped and had their tyres checked by the officers. The checks resulted in advice being given to a number of drivers whose tyre tread depth was just above the legal minimum tread depth.

PC Richard Wiejak, one of the Constabulary’s Collision Investigators, said, “It was encouraging to see that the messages regarding tyre condition and the dangers of worn tyres are  getting through to motorists. None of the vehicles stopped had illegal tyres and no drivers had to be reported for tyre offences.”

Tyre pressures should be checked at least once a month or before any long journeys.

The correct pressure settings for vehicles can be found inside the vehicle handbook, inside the fuel filler cap or on a plate on the driver's door sill.

Alternatively you can search TyreSafe’s online database, at www.tyresafe.org by simply entering the vehicle's registration number.

The legal minimum tread depth for cars in the UK is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tyre around its entire circumference. Driving on tyres which are below this limit is not only dangerous but illegal and you could face a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each tyre.