Business Insurance - Firms advised on tyre maintenance and overloading

Companies across the UK could be placing the lives of their drivers at risk by overloading vehicles and failing to properly maintain tyres, it has been revealed.

According to tyre retailer Delti.com, exceeding the recommended payload capacity of a commercial vehicle can apply considerably more force on tyres than would normally be the case, resulting in increased wear and a lack of traction.

In extreme cases, this additional force can result in a blowout - a situation which can prove particularly dangerous and even life threatening if it takes place at speed.

Recent data from the Vehicle and Operator Service Agency revealed that in spot checks of commercial vehicle operators across the UK, 26 per cent of vans and other light commercial vehicles were deemed unroadworthy because of the state of their tyres.

As a result, firms are advised to regularly check the condition of tyres and to ensure they keep within the safe working parameters of their vehicles in order to stay safe when out on the roads.

Businesses must also be aware of the dangers of improper tyre choices during the colder months, with winter tyres recommended for all commercial vehicles when temperatures drop below seven degrees Celsius.

Traditional tyres are not designed for use in these extreme climates and with the Met Office predicting temperatures will fall below this level on 147 days over the next six months companies should act quickly to safeguard their fleets.

"While last winter was actually milder than normal, these statistics are ample reason for motorists to still consider swapping to winter tyres from October to March, in fact 147 very strong reasons," said Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe.

In addition, TyreSafe has contacted garages across the UK in a bid to offer firms the chance for free tyre maintenance checks during October's ongoing Tyre Safety Month.

"We've devised a number of ways to help people to check their own tyres, but there really is no substitute for having a qualified professional offer their expertise," commented Mr Jackson.

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We are proud to be a Chartered Insurance Broker. Only around 5% of the UK’s broking firms achieve this prestigious status. Also, we have been a BIBA Member since 2007, the UK’s leading general insurance intermediary organisation representing the interests of insurance brokers, intermediaries, and their customers.

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