Drivers warned to take care with tyre safety

The Minister for Transport, Paschal Donohoe, has asked drivers to ensure they check their tyres regularly, as he launched Irish Road Safety Week.

Tyre safety, child safety and cycling safety are on the agenda for Irish Road Safety Week, which runs from Monday 5 October to Sunday 11 October.

119 people have died on Irish roads this year alone.

According to a survey by the Road Safety Authority, one in eight drivers in Ireland have bought part-worn tyres.

While almost 80% of drivers know how to check the air pressure of their car’s tyres, 10% do it less than once a year or not at all.

The Road Safety Authority asks road-users to ensure their tyres are the right type and size for the vehicle, are properly inflated, do not have defects and have tread depths of at least 1.6mm.

Free tyre checks will be on offer by the Irish Tyre Industry Association at participating garages on Wednesday 7 October, which is National Tyre Safety Day.

A road safety lecture on cycle safety will be held at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin on Monday, where research on helmet-wearing will be presented, and talks will also be given to schoolchildren about road safety.

3,000 bicycle lights will be distributed by the RSA on their Facebook and Twitter pages during the week.

The Minister for Transport, Paschal Donohoe, said: “If we all looked at how we use the roads every day, I have no doubt that we would find room for improvement. So, this week, consider what small change you could make to make the roads safer for yourself and others. In particular, as the weather starts to get that bit colder, I would urge road-users to ensure they check their tyres regularly.”

The RSA chief executive Moyagh Murdock declared: “We are concerned with the level of part-worn tyres being used on vehicles. Some are on sale for as little as €10. When you consider that tyres are your only contact with the road, you really have to ask yourself is this the value you place on your family’s life?”

“The RSA will soon be publishing a report – based on an analysis of forensic data – that shows the quality of tyres plays a much bigger role in fatal collisions than previously thought. It is really worrying that people are not prioritising safety when they purchase tyres,” she added.

A copy of ‘Your Guide to Tyre Safety’ is available on the RSA website.