BASIC VEHICLE MAINTENANCE is even more important in the winter months than at any other time of the year according to a leading roads campaigner.
Highlands and Islands (including Moray) Regional MSP and road safety campaigner, David Stewart, has taken this opportunity days before Road Safety Week to highlight the importance of tyre safety.
The MSP’s message to constituents is: “Your vehicles tyres are the only part of the vehicle which actually touch the road surface. Acceleration, braking, steering and cornering all depend on your tyres and their contact with the road, that is how important they are.
“The law indicates that to be legal there must be a minimum of 1.6mm of tread across the central ¾ of the tyre and around the circumference.
“Here is a tip for checking your tyre tread depth if you do not have a gauge. You take a 20pence piece and place it within the tread. If you can see the outer rim of the coin, then the tyre is approaching the legal limit and you should seriously consider replacing it.
“In winter, good tyre depth is as important as ever. I cannot emphasise this point enough. I ask Motorists to please check their vehicle tyres now and make sure they are legal.
“I have come up with the pneumonic ‘TREAD’ to highlight my message. If you have tyres with a good tread and grip you reduce you chance of losing traction, control and a collision – T-tyre safety, R-reduces risks of E-everyday A-accidents and even D-death.”