As the third year of legislation banning the use of tyres aged over 10 years in certain situations approaches, specialist coach and bus insurance broker, McCarron Coates, is calling for increased focus on tyre risk management.
Failure to comply with the age restriction introduced in February 2021 greatly increases the likelihood of culpability in an accident and can result in fines and penalties from DVSA.
McCarron Coates suggests that commercial fleet operators be proactive about their daily walk-round checks and file evidence of their completion. The company stresses that good risk management goes beyond the minimum tread levels and recommends a limit of 3mm of tread on quality tyres. This provides leeway for smaller fleet operators, which may not have the resources of larger firms to immediately address issues.
It further warns that operators need to understand their tyres as 3mm of tread may still not offer the same level of risk protection on a budget tyre as it would on a higher-quality tyre, revealing that cheaper tyres may require a significantly greater distance to bring a vehicle to a stop, leading to greater collision damage or injuries.
McCarron Coates wants fleet operators to recognise the fundamental importance of tyres to risk management and believes that driver training on this aspect should be enhanced. “Fleets should better explore driver knowledge on legal tyre tread limits, what constitutes a damaged tyre and how to spot under- and over-inflation,” says Director Ian McCarron.
Regular tyre checks and ensuring drivers understand stopping distances, load-carrying, and weather and road conditions are also vital to safety on the road. With increased tyre management, commercial fleet operators can mitigate the risks associated with tyre-related incidents.
