The age of tyres on coaches is once again in the spotlight with the launch of the Tyred campaign. Its aim is to change the law and bring in a mandatory and enforced 10-year life limit for tyres on PCVs
10 September 2012 was one of the darkest days for the coach industry. It was when a crash occurred near Hindhead Tunnel on the M3 that killed two passengers and the driver.
It later emerged that the tyre that blew out and caused the accident was over 19 years old, leading to a storm of controversy that has never really gone away.
One of the victims was Michael Molloy. His mother Frances has mounted a sustained challenge ever since for legislation to outlaw the use of tyres over 10 years old on PCVs.
Her campaign was relaunched at the beginning of July. Called Tyred, it has the backing of Merseyside’s political heavyweights, and both they and Mrs Molloy are confident that this time, it will succeed.
The background
Merseypride Travel, operator of the coach involved in the M3 crash, had its O-Licence revoked by Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell at at subsequent Public Inquiry in December 2013.
Merseypride’s directors were also disqualified indefinitely from acting as Transport Managers, and a host of defects – some relating to other tyres – were found on the coach.
“The cause of the crash was the nearside front tyre, which was over 19 years old; older than the coach, and older than my son,” says Mrs Molloy. “At the inquest into Michael’s death the coroner issued a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, with the matter of concern being tyre age.”
Mrs Molloy remains highly critical of then-Transport Minister Patrick McLoughlin, who she says ignored the coroner’s report, and she has similar ire for the current incumbent, Chris Grayling.
Mr Grayling, she continues, has refused to meet Mrs Molloy’s MP Maria Eagle to discuss looking again at a failed bill from 2014 that proposed a 10-year age limit on PCV tyres. That is why she has engaged the help of Mrs Eagle, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and Lord Mayor of Liverpool Malcolm Kennedy.
“Enacting an age limit on PCV tyres would come at no cost to the government and it would only affect a small number of operators,” adds Mrs Molloy.
NatEx at the table
In an indication of the likely support from compliant operators for an age limit on PCV tyres, National Express has already agreed to back the Tyred campaign. “I hope that we can assist in bringing around the desired change to legislation,” says Customer and Digital Experience Director Vinay Parmar.
Mr Parmar adds that, for obvious reasons, tyres on National Express coaches do not reach the hoped-for 10-year maximum life advocated by the campaign before they wear out, but physical wear forms no part of Tyred’s manifesto.
Despite its age, the tyre on the Merseypride coach that caused 2012’s accident still had 40% of tread depth present. National Tyre Distributors Association Director Stefan Hay explains that when tyres age, the rubber perishes, and he is calling for a ban on the sale of part-worn tyres.
“The problem with old tyres is caused by the use of part-worn casings. We have called for a ban on their sale, but there is no government interest in it.”
What chance success?
Mrs Eagle is MP for Garston and Halewood. “A disgrace” is how she describes Mr Grayling’s refusal to discuss revisiting 2014’s failed bill. “There is no reason why, in the new Parliament, we cannot take the bill up again. And we will,” she says.
Some of her fellow Labour MPs have already expressed an interest in introducing it as a Private Members’ Bill. While only a minority of Private Members’ Bills become law, Mrs Eagle adds that there are other avenues to explore as part of the bid to change the law, including introduction of the bill via the 10-minute rule.
“I believe that there are possibilities to get further than we did before and change the law. It’s something that, were it not for Chris Grayling, we might be able to do.”
Mrs Eagle uses the term “with a fair wind” when addressing hopes of converting the Bill into law, and nothing guarantees that the Tyred campaign’s hopes will be realised.
Nevertheless, its backers – and there are many of them, some of whom are politicians with a degree of influence – are set to make their thoughts known in a bid to ensure that change happens.
“To alter the law will cost less than caring for those who suffer injuries from tyre-related crashes,” says Mrs Eagle. It is difficult to argue with that.
routeone comment
The compliant, responsible operator has little to fear from the Tyred campaign, because in most cases it is unlikely that a tyre that has been used consistently through its life will reach 10 years of age before wearing out.
Where the coach industry as a whole does stand to suffer is through reputational damage as a result of the actions of the tiny minority that don’t take tyres seriously enough.
As seen on the campaign’s Facebook and Twitter pages, it is already very active. Frances Molloy suggests that “hundreds of thousands” of passengers per year are being carried on coaches that would not satisfy the wished-for 10 year tyre age limit.
It remains to be seen whether more operators join National Express in supporting Tyred, but if you do, then shout about it.
