TyreSafe has labelled a rise in the number of tyre-related KSIs as “deeply troubling” – and says it underscores the urgent need for stronger action to address tyre safety.
DfT figures, published last week, show there were 190 tyre-related KSIs in 2023 – up 29% from 2022 (147).
The 2023 figure is also the highest number of casualties due to tyre defects since 2018.
TyreSafe says this increase suggests that despite ongoing efforts, tyre safety remains a significant issue, and more needs to be done to prevent avoidable deaths and injuries.
TyreSafe is also campaigning for statistics to better reflect the causational factors contributing to those killed or injured, with underreporting posing an ongoing challenge in understanding the true scale of the problem.
Stuart Lovatt, chair of TyreSafe, said: “These figures are a stark reminder that we cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to tyre safety.
“The increase in tyre-related KSIs is a call to action to raise the level of debate and understanding of the impact of dangerous and unroadworthy tyres.
“With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to hit the nation’s pockets hard, TyreSafe will continue to campaign to see drivers and riders understand how they can reduce their risks of an incident.
“Now is the time for the Government to address this growing trend with more focus on tackling the rise in tyre related vehicle defects, focus on improving compliance levels in this area and launch a THINK! campaign to raise societal awareness of this dangerous trend.”
TyreSafe urges all road users to prioritise regular tyre checks, including tread depth, pressure, and overall condition, to ensure their vehicles are safe to drive.
I wonder if we could have details of these so-called ‘tyre-related KSIs…’
What does ‘tyre-related’ actually mean?
Hugh Jones, Wirral
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