The AA has signed up as an official supporter of TyreSafe in a move to advance road safety.

DfT figures show 190 people were killed or seriously injured in incidents related to defective tyres in 2023

The collaboration will work to address the impact of poorly maintained or illegal tyres, which continue to be a major cause of breakdowns on UK roads and, more importantly, pose a significant risk to road users.

Department for Transport figures show 190 people were killed or seriously injured in incidents related to defective tyres in 2023; up 29% on 2022 and the highest number of causalities since 2018.

According to National Highways, one in five vehicle breakdowns on motorways and A-roads result from tyre defects – equating to roughly 50,000 breakdowns each year on the motorway network alone.

Last year, the AA attended over 620,000 tyre-related faults – many of which could have been avoided by performing simple tyre checks before driving. Its ‘Get a Grip’ campaign launched earlier this year, urging drivers to perform vital, basic tyre checks to avoid a “summer tyre tragedy”.

A survey of 13,807 AA members revealed nearly half (47%) wouldn’t know where to look if asked to check the age of their tyres, and more than one in 10 (13%) wrongly assumed this is covered in the MOT test.

With the support of the AA, TyreSafe’s campaign to promote regular tyre maintenance will reach a broader audience, ensuring more drivers are equipped with the knowledge to prevent tyre-related issues before they become a hazard.

Greg Carter, technical specialist, public affairs, policy and polling at the AA, said: “With tyre-related breakdowns accounting for a substantial portion of the calls we receive each year, we recognise the importance of education in preventing these incidents.

“More important is the worrying lack of understanding about how performing simple checks can prevent not only a breakdown, but also a tyre tragedy. Through this partnership, we aim to help drivers better understand how a few simple checks can make a big difference in keeping them safe on the road.”