Tyres are a contributory factor in 14 deaths on Irish roads each year and road-safety professionals are encouraging all motorists to carry out three essential tyre checks as we head into Irish Road Safety Week 2021.
Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Michael Smyth, commented: “The start of the new academic year means more cars on the roads, particularly at peak times of the day.
“Many of these cars may be used less frequently so it’s essential that their tyres are checked to ensure that they are roadworthy and legal so that the precious load is transported in a safe manner.”
Tread depths should be examined to ensure they exceed the Ireland’s minimum legal tread depth of 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tyre, around its entire circumference. And general condition should be inspected to ensure they are free from lumps, cuts and bulges, and any foreign objects embedded in the tread should also be removed.
Noel Gibbons road safety officer in the Communications office of Mayo County Council concluded: “Making these vital safety checks only takes a couple of moments but could make the world of difference to the safety of you and your children.
“Of course, this isn’t just a one time job; it’s something that we all should be doing on an ongoing basis at least once a month.”
Sergeant James Malone roads policing unit Castlebar said “This campaign is all part of our commitment to improving road safety and prevent further tragedies on our roads and we are urging all road users to share in the collective responsibility to keep our roads safe.
“Additionally, we’ll be doing roadside checks to ensure vehicles are roadworthy for the winter months ahead so I would encourage motorists to give their vehicles a once over and make sure tyres have sufficient tread, are inflated to the correct pressure, that all lights work properly and that you have washer fluid topped up to keep your windscreen clear. Please take care and stay safe.”