Drivers are being urged to check the condition of their vehicle’s tyres before they head away this August Bank Holiday.
Research commissioned by National Highways (formerly Highways England) revealed that only one in six drivers check their tyres prior to departure.
However, with one in five breakdowns coming about due to either poorly inflated or worn tyres, National Highways is advising drivers to carry out some basic checks before they set off this weekend.
With the roads expected to reach pre-pandemic levels of activity this weekend, National Highways will be lifting nearly 990 miles of roadworks to help keep the traffic moving.
Dave Harford, Traffic Officer for National Highways, said: “This is the last bank holiday of the summer, so we expect the roads to be busy with people looking to make the most of a long weekend. But the last thing anybody wants on the way to their destination is to have a vehicle breakdown. It’s really important people spend a few minutes checking the condition of their tyres before setting off.”
To help with the flow of traffic, National Highways is also advising drivers to check their tyre pressure, the tread depth and to also look at the age of the tyres – including the spare – before heading off.
Dave added: “Although the legal limit for tyre tread depth is 1.6mm, we recommend you don’t let the tread get that low. Changing the tyre at 2mm in summer and 3 mm in winter is good practice and maintains overall good tyre performance in all conditions. To check your tyre pressure, visit most fuel and service station forecourts, which have an air machine for checking and inflating your tyre pressure.”
Should you be stopped by the police and have illegal tyres, you could receive up to £2,500 fine, along with 3 penalty points for each tyre.
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Find out more about tyre maintenance for your motorhome here.
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