The figures from Michelin’s latest Fill Up With Air roadshow at Arval show that more than two-thirds of the tyres tested on 151 employee vehicles were at the correct pressure or less than seven psi underinflated. This compares to 38% from the first such event held at Arval in 2008.

In addition, the number of cars found to have tyre pressures considered to be very dangerous – more than 15 psi under-inflated – has dropped to 3% over the last four years.

Tracey Scarr, Arval’s fleet and road safety manager, said: ‘Checking and correcting tyre pressures is straightforward, but it is still an area which is routinely neglected by too many drivers in the UK.’

She added: ‘Through our ongoing driver safety programme, we give our employees a great deal of information and support and initiatives like this provide further examples of how we can help them to reduce their road risk.’

It is thought the increase in correct tyre pressures has been encouraged by the installation of a Michelin Man air-line at Arval’s head office in Swindon; a tyre pressure gauge that employees and visitors to the Arval Centre can use for free.

Paul Brady, Michelin’s key account manager for Arval, said: ‘We are really pleased to see a continuing improvement in results. It goes to prove that the effort the business is going to in developing safety awareness among drivers is really paying off. Arval is setting a fantastic example and we would encourage other companies to follow suit.’