Tyron Runflat, inventor of the world’s only multi-piece rubber Runflat system, is raising awareness of the life-saving importance of road safety for commercial vehicles this November.
As the icy weather conditions fast approach and Road Safety Week (17th -23rd November) is upon us, the specialist team at Tyron Runflat are urging commercial vehicle users to take the maintenance of their tyres seriously to prevent serious road traffic accidents this winter. The theme for this years’ Road Safety Week is "After the Crash – Every Road Victim Counts", and Tyron is advocating for individuals to remain vigilant and do what they can to avoid road traffic accidents all together.
It is reported that one in five breakdowns on the SRN are caused by tyre failure, that’s 50,000 breakdowns each year - and 30% of those involve commercial vehicles. Low tyre pressure, poor alignment, sidewall damage and tyre degradation are all reasons that a tyre can run into problems.
Leading the way for tyre maintenance and the vital importance of remaining vigilant to avoid road traffic accidents, Peter Simson, Director at Tyron Runflat, shares the solution: “Year after year we are seeing an increase in the number of road traffic accidents, so it is more important than ever that people take their safety seriously. As the icy weather conditions loom and the dark nights are already here, it is vital that all road users take action to ensure the safety of their vehicle.”
It is reported by the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency that from January to March 2024, ‘condition of tyres’ was the highest defect in all inspected HGV’s, that’s 6.53%. This figure is also an increase from the previous time period (October to December 2023) which saw tyre conditions responsible for 6.08% of defects.
Peter continued: “We appreciate the roads are busier than ever and commercial vehicle drivers are experiencing their peak season, which is why it’s as good a time as ever to increase the safety of your tyres. The easiest thing for hauliers to do is check their tyre treads and ensure they haven’t worn below the legal minimum tread depth of 1.0mm on truck tyres (over 3,500kg GVW), each tyre is suitably inflated, and each tyre has the correct tread wear.
“However, for those hauliers that want to go the extra mile, our unique Tyron Multiband can provide complete peace of mind for any journey. Our band ensures that if a tyre is punctured, the tyre will be locked onto the wheel which helps the driver remain in control, so that individuals can reach a safe location to have their tyre changed and continue their journey.”
The Department of Transport has recently reported that cars are the leading vehicle involved in fatal collisions, but per passenger mile, HGV’s had the highest rate of other road user fatalities.
Peter added: “An average HGV driver will do around 125,000 miles per year, which is about 2,500 per week which automatically puts these vehicles in a more dangerous position. Road safety is an important element of any journey, to ensure all road users remain safe. In Q2 of 2024 13,000 HGVs were newly registered in the UK, which is a 5% increase from 2023. This sort of shift helps to show the importance of road safety, particularly for larger vehicles.
“In recent years there has been a real industry focus on the importance of road safety for HGVs, but still there remains a very serious challenge with tyre maintenance. The Tyron Multiband really is the answer to these perpetuating problems, providing complete security and safety for road users.”