Dramatic CCTV footage shows consequences of tyre failure

AS A PART of October's Tyre Safety Month initiative the Highways Agency have released dramatic footage of the consequences of tyre failure.

In the clip, viewable on the Highways Agency YouTube channel, motorway cameras capture the moment a front tyre explodes on a large lorry, sending it out of control and into the central reservation in a spectacular crash.

Further clips show the chaos caused when all three lanes of a motorway are closed to retrieve tyre debris, and the eye-watering £2 million cost of a lorry fire caused by tyre failure results in all six lanes of a motorway being shut for hours.

"Many people incorrectly assume that if their tyre fails, they’ll simply pull onto safety of the hard shoulder,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe. "However, as this startling clip shows, when a tyre fails, the results can be dramatic, beyond control and incredibly frightening. The clips really do emphasise why it’s important to check your tyres regularly."

TyreSafe are advising that many problems can be easily avoided by regular tyre checks. As well as checking that tyres are inflated to the correct pressure at least once a month, tread depths should also be checked to ensure they meet the legal minimum standards and tyres should be inspected for any cuts, lumps or bulges in the sidewall.

Thousands of tyre dealers across the UK are offering free tyre safety checks as part of October’s tyre safety month. Drivers can find the location of their nearest participating outlet by visiting www.tyresafe.org and entering their postcode into the locator facility.

By Press Association reporters