Tread carefully not to end up on skid row

Don’t end up on skid row. That’s the message from Carmarthenshire council’s road safety unit targeting tyre safety on county roads.

The tyre campaign coincides with new European labelling regulations introduced this month requiring all new tyres on sale to be accompanied by a standardised label at point of sale.

Carmarthenshire’s Community Safety Partnership road safety team members incorporating council and fire service staff have been touring county towns with a tyre safety exhibition. They have been in the St Elli Shopping Centre and Guildhall Square, Carmarthen.

The new EU labels provide information on the wet grip performance, fuel efficiency and exterior rolling noise of tyres. The labels are similar to existing energy efficiency household appliance labels with easily read and understood colour coded different categories of performance.

County Road Safety Officer Keith Griffiths said: “UK law required that your vehicle is fitted with the correct tyre for the vehicle type you are driving and for the purpose for which it is being used.

“Drivers have a legal requirement to make sure there is sufficient tread on their tyres before they take to the road different construction of tyres are not mixed on the same axle.

“It is such an important part of car maintenance to ensure that all tyres are in good condition that to drive with defective tyres carries a high penalty; currently a fine of £2,500 and three penalty point endorsement per defective tyres.”

If you’re unsure of your car tyre’s tread depth, an easy way to check is by using a Tread Buddy. For your free Tread Buddy log onto www.roadsafetycarmarthenshire.co.uk and click on ‘Driving’ then ‘Tyre Safety’, or telephone 01267 228284.