As part of the Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) Van Excellence conferences, expert technicians from local ATS Euromaster centres checked the tyres of 301 vehicles in Sheffield, Slough and Dunblane. From these tests ATS Euromaster has revealed that in the majority of cases fleet vehicles qualify for the highest level of tyre safety classification.
The car park inspections saw the tyre tread depth and overall condition of each tyre recorded. Different coloured cards were then left on the windscreen of vehicles which had been inspected, informing the owner of the current tread depths and letting them know if any action was needed if there was any at all. The traffic light-style cards were coloured red, amber and green.
5% of vehicles tested received an amber warning, this advised that the tread depth on at least one tyre was 2mm or below and would need replacing imminently. 94% of the vehicles inspected were given the green card, which meant that they had more than 2mm of remaining tread on each tyre.
Only 1% of vehicles were given a red warning as they were being driven illegally, with one or more tyres below the 1.6mm limit. These vehicles were instructed to replaces their tyres.
Peter Fairlie, ATS Euromaster’s group sales director, said: ‘It’s encouraging to see so many fleet managers are ensuring their vehicles are operating on safe tyres’ ‘These results were much better than we would typically expect if we visited a fleet at random, where we weren’t carrying out routine safety checks. It suggests that fleet managers take tyre condition seriously, and suggests that members of the FTA’s Van Excellence programme are, on the whole, more tuned into vehicle safety issues.’
‘Not only is driving a vehicle with a tread depth limit below 1.6mm illegal, but it is also extremely dangerous. Tyres are the only part of a vehicle in direct contact with the road’s surface, so ensuring they are regularly checked and in good condition is essential.’
Fairlie went on to say ‘Fleets understand how important driver safety is and by ensuring their vehicles’ tread depths are regularly checked, fleet managers are taking a simple step to keeping their drivers safe on the road,’
The routine tyre safety inspections that are provided by ATS Euromaster are proving to be very popular by its business customers. The inspections are usually organised where there are a large numbers of vehicles such as company car parks. Drivers are then advised of any tyre work that is required for them to drive away safely, if any work is needed to be carried out then it can be done on-site or at one of ATS Euromaster’s centres.