Bridgestone is urging parents to carry out vital tyre checks to keep their families safe ahead of the school run, after the company’s latest research revealed that 63% of motorists will wait until their car fails its MOT before replacing tyres.
With millions of children across the UK preparing to head back to school, Bridgestone’s questionnaire amongst 2,000 drivers also revealed that 11% admit to driving on bald, illegal tyres before taking action.
For parents taking their children to and from the school gates, these figures highlight a hidden danger, as a quarter of drivers surveyed also said they never think about the risks of unroadworthy tyres, while cost pressures are also leading some to delay essential replacements. More than a third admitted putting off buying new tyres because of financial concerns.
These findings are supported by national statistics. TyreSafe’s Tread Depth Survey suggests that 6.1 million tyres could be driven illegally each year, while over two million MOT failures are caused by tyre defects – one million of which are classed as dangerous.
Bridgestone’s UK Senior Marketing Manager, Helen Roe, said: “Tyres are the only part of a car that touches the road, and yet they remain one of the most neglected safety components. With the school run back in full swing, we want to remind parents that simple tyre checks could make the difference between a safe journey and a dangerous one. Life is a journey – let’s make it a safe one.”
Bridgestone has already carried out more than 5,000 free tyre inspections in communities across the UK through its Be a Bridgestone Road Safety Hero campaign over the past 18 months, which is designed to make checking tyres easier and to raise awareness of their importance. The company is urging parents to take three simple steps before setting off on the school run: check tyre pressures, measure tread depth, and seek professional advice if in doubt.
Helen added: “We all want our children to get to school safely, and tyres play a huge role in that. By taking just a few minutes to check them each month, parents can make sure their family is better protected on every journey.”
