Gardai and military attend course on tyre technology

Against the backdrop of a recent analysis by the Road Safety Authority – which revealed that, in fatal road accidents occurring in Ireland between 2008 and 2012, defective tyres were the largest single vehicle factor involved – delegates from the Forensic Collision Investigation and Public Service Vehicle Inspection units of An Garda Siochana and members of the Irish Military Police recently attended a Police Tyre Technical Course presented by tyre manufacturer Michelin at the Garda Training College in Templemore.

Organised on the recommendation of Garda Frank Lavin, Senior Forensic Collision Investigator at the college, the course followed lines similar to one organised by Michelin at its headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent which Garda Lavin had attended.

Topics covered included the proper identification of tyres, their construction and markings and the part tyres play in vehicle handling behaviour.

Tyre technology and the common causes of tyre wear and damage, the principles of regrooving and the influence of tyres and their condition on road traffic incidents were amongst the other topics covered.

Plans to host a PSVI and FCI course in 2017 are now being considered.

Photo caption: Delegates from the Forensic Collision Investigation and Public Service Vehicle Inspection units of An Garda Siochana and members of the Irish Military Police pictutred recently attending a Police Tyre Technical Course presented by tyre manufacturer Michelin at the Garda Training College in Templemore.