Worn tyres 'can have devastating consequences'

Date: 22/10/2010

Driving with worn tyres can cause tragic accidents, emergency service workers have warned.

TyreSafe is urging Britons to check the legality of their tyres after professionals shared their experiences in support of October's tyre safety month.

Shaun McKeown, a Forensic Vehicle Examiner for the Cumbria Police Collision Investigation Unit, said it is not worth taking a risk with one's car wheels.

"All the incidents I attend are serious and sadly, sometimes fatal," he stated.

Mr McKeown explained one case he will always remember is a young nurse who suffered fatal head injuries when her vehicle crashed because of a rear tyre deflating.

"These cases are devastating for the families involved and we urge drivers to do all they can to prevent them," he remarked.

Earlier this month, the Institute of Advanced Motorists advised drivers to make sure their tyres are in good condition now, before winter frosts set in and the roads become more dangerous.

Posted by Sarah Bailey