Decade-old tyres could be banned from next year
The ban would initially apply to coaches, buses and goods vehicles
ROAD tyres that are 10 years old or more could soon be banned from UK roads under new government plans.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a consultation period to see if there’s support for a ban on larger road vehicles using older and potentially dangerous tyres. Depending on the responses, tyres that are more than a decade old would become illegal as soon as early 2020.
While the consultation is limited to vehicles such as coaches, lorries and buses, there is potential scope to include cars and other smaller vehicles. As part of the consultation, respondents will be asked whether they think the ban should also extend to taxis and private hire vehicles.
The DfT expects the new legislation would have a positive impact on road safety, helping to reduce the numbers of people killed or injured on UK roads.
Road safety statistics show the number of accidents caused by defective tyres has been declining in the UK, falling from 656 reported incidents in 2013 to 472 in the most recent data, from 2017. Serious and fatal accidents caused by faulty tyres also decreased over the same time period, from 139 incidents in 2013 to 129 in 2017.
Road safety minister Michael Ellis said: “There is increasing evidence that age affects the safety of tyres, which is why I think older tyres should not be used on large vehicles.
“Our priority is keeping people safe on our roads, and we are taking action to reduce the number of people killed or injured.”
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