A recent study commissioned by Anyline and TyreSafe reveals a worrying trend in tyre safety habits across the UK, underscoring how many drivers are unknowingly putting themselves—and others—at risk. Conducted in partnership with research firm Opinium, the survey interviewed 2,000 UK drivers, with results suggesting a stark lack of tyre maintenance knowledge and practices, despite well-documented safety risks.
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The survey found that fewer than one in five drivers (19%) check their tyre tread depth on a monthly basis, as recommended by tyre safety guidelines. More concerning, over a third of drivers said they rely solely on a visual inspection rather than using a tread depth gauge. In fact, only 29% reported using a gauge regularly to measure their tyre tread accurately.
These findings come amid Tyre Safety Month, a national campaign led by TyreSafe to raise awareness about the critical role of tyre maintenance in preventing road accidents. The survey highlights significant gaps in knowledge about tyre safety regulations. For example, only 36% of respondents were aware that driving with tyres below the legal tread depth could result in a penalty of three points on their licence for each defective tyre.
While tyre safety knowledge remains low, there is a positive trend towards using technology to encourage regular tyre checks. The study found that 54% of respondents would be more likely to monitor their tyre tread if they had access to a mobile app capable of measuring tread depth. This is where Anyline, a leader in mobile data capture and AI-driven insights, is stepping in with cutting-edge mobile technology designed to make tyre checks more accessible and accurate.
Lukas Kinigadner, CEO and co-founder of Anyline, emphasised the importance of accessible tyre safety tools. “Defective and worn tyres contribute to too many unnecessary injuries and deaths. We believe that many of those casualties could be avoided if drivers knew more about their tyres and had the right tools and technology to make informed decisions themselves. That’s why it was important for Anyline to partner with TyreSafe on this project to better understand what drivers really know about tyre maintenance and where education and technology can be applied in the future to make our roads safer.”
Tyre safety awareness is more urgent than ever. The Department for Transport’s latest ‘Reported Road Casualties Great Britain’ report for 2023 showed a 29% increase in killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties related to tyre-related incidents. The statistics indicate that misconceptions around tyre maintenance, paired with a lack of regular tread checks, may be contributing to the rise in accidents.
Stuart Lovatt, Chair at TyreSafe, commented on the importance of the study: “This new research provides crucial insights into UK drivers’ understanding and practices around tyre safety. It is a critical resource for those looking to enhance road safety by addressing gaps in tyre maintenance practices among UK drivers, which it would appear needs even greater attention.”
TyreSafe and Anyline are committed to addressing these safety gaps by promoting both education and technology solutions for the public. Anyline’s mobile scanning technology, for example, enables service centres, tyre retailers, and drivers to instantly capture detailed tyre information, helping drivers make informed decisions regarding tyre maintenance.
For more information on Tyre Safety Month, visit TyreSafe’s website at www.tyresafe.org
To learn more about Anyline’s mobile solutions, go to www.anyline.com
