The Department for Transport has opened a consultation on whether to ban tyres aged 10 years and over on coaches, buses, minibuses, HGVs and trailers.
The consultation is the result of the ‘Tyred’ campaign by Frances Molloy, whose son Michael was killed in 2012 in a coach crash caused by a 19-year-old tyre. If supported, the new rules could be in force by early 2020.
Research commissioned by the DfT shows that ageing tyres suffer corrosion, which can cause them to fail.
At present, the guidance for operators is to not use older tyres at the front of the vehicle. DVSA inspections since 2017 showed only 0.06% were in breach of that guidance.
Road Safety Minister Michael Ellis says: “Our priority is keeping people safe on our roads, and we are taking action to reduce the number of people killed or injured.
“There is increasing evidence that age affects the safety of tyres, which is why I think older tyres should not be used on large vehicles.
“I would like to thank Frances Molloy and the Tyred campaign for their work raising this important issue – the changes we are consulting on could save lives.”
The deadline is 1 September. Respond to the consultation here.
