Venson urges fleet managers to review their tyre management policies as latest National Highways report one in five vehicles break down due to tyre issues.

43% of motorists fail to check their vehicle tyre pressure

New research from Venson Automotive Solutions reports that 43% of motorists do not check their vehicle’s tyre pressure, 18% of which claim they carry no vehicle maintenance checks whatsoever. The findings come as National Highways reveals more than 41,500 vehicles broke down on motorways and major A roads last year because of tyre issues, equating to over 20% of all breakdowns. Venson is calling upon fleet managers to recognise the importance of having a comprehensive tyre management policy in place, to ensure tyre safety for their employees and other road users.

“Fleet driver safety should always be at the top of the duty of care agenda for any business, but it’s easy to overlook how important regular tyre inspections are. And it’s equally important businesses ensure their company car and van drivers understand they will be held personally accountable by the police, if found to be driving a vehicle with illegal tyres,” comments Simon Staton, director of client management at Venson Automotive Solutions.

“Putting a tyre management policy in place will ensure staff are trained to frequently carry out necessary checks, including tyre pressure, tread depth and damage. The provision of written reports by drivers or the use of an online app detailing defects should be mandatory, alerting the fleet team or their fleet management provider of any issues.”

Under-inflated or over-inflated tyres can adversely affect braking distances, steering, fuel efficiency and the lifetime of the tyre.  In addition, tyres with cuts, bulges or tears within the tyre tread that cover more than 25mm or over 10% of the section width of the wheel, can also be deemed unsafe. Motorists stopped by police and found to be driving a vehicle with these tyre issues can face fines of £2,500 and three penalty points per tyre.

Simon Staton concluded, “We urge fleet managers and businesses to ensure staff conduct regular tyre checks, making them one of the top safety measures that company car and van drivers can make. Following a good routine could not only make journeys safer and more pleasurable but will also help to ensure vehicle down time is kept to a minimum.”