Drive4Life

Tyre checks

Drivers should check both the tyre pressure and tread depth regularly, as driving with over inflated or under inflated tyres can affect your braking distance.

You can check the pressure of your tyres at a local petrol station, using the guidelines in your vehicle handbook. Here’s what you need to do:

• Set the air machine to the recommended tyre pressure for your vehicle
• Unscrew the valve caps on each tyre
• Firmly attach the air pressure gauge to the tyre valve

The machine will give you a reading before inflating your tyres to the correct pressure.

It is a legal requirement that each of your tyres has a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm.

To check your tread depth, simply place a 20p coin into the grooves of the tyre tread. If you can’t see the outer rim of the coin, then your tread depth is legal. Check a few different areas on each tyre to be sure. You should also regularly check for bulges, cuts or any other damage. If you discover any damage or your tread depth is low, you should replace your tyre immediately.

Driving whilst tired

Tired drivers have a reduced reaction time, vigilance, alertness and concentration, all of which are necessary for safe driving. Driving whilst tired can then result in an inability to deal with the unexpected, poor decision making and greater risk taking.

Advice to reduce the risk

• Monotony is a big problem when travelling on motorways. Take a 20-minute rest from driving every 2 hours to break up the journey.
• Avoid travelling after eating a large meal.
• Plan your journey, including rest periods and allow time for unexpected delays.
• Share the driving with a second driver.
• Consider an alternative mode of transport such as train or coach.
• Avoid drinking alcohol the day before and on the day of travel.
• Make sure your vehicle is legal, roadworthy and has breakdown cover.

Speeding

The Department for Transport (DfT) estimates that on 30mph roads, 52 per cent of cars exceed the speed limit. Research suggests that a third of all collisions are caused by excessive or inappropriate speed.

Advice to reduce the risk

• Know your speed limits and how to identify them without seeing the speed limit signs
• Speeding offers no real time advantage but increases the risk of a serious or fatal crash.
• Follow the posted speed limit by using gear 2 for 20, 3 for 30, 4 for 40, etc.
• Only aim for the speed limit if safe to do so. Remember it is not a target.
• Speeding can increase your stress levels, making you more likely to take risks such as rapidly switching lanes, tailgating and jumping red lights.

Mobile phone use

Andy Wheeler, Head of Technical Delivery at TTC Group, said: “Driving requires your full attention and anything that diverts your attention away from the road is a distraction, has a detrimental effect on driving performance and can lead to an on-road incident.

“Texting, making and receiving calls or livestreaming while driving is a serious and growing threat. Our advice is simple: Switch the phone off and don’t take it out until you have reached your destination and it is safe to do so.”

Advice to reduce the risk

• Store your phone out of reach and out of sight, so you are not tempted to use it.
• Switch off your phone or mute the notifications and alerts.
• Enable your mobile device’s ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature.
• Drivers using their handsfree or handheld device are slower at identifying and reacting to hazards. If you are using handsfree, think about your environment and risks around you before making or taking the call.
• Wait until you have parked safely before using your mobile, not on the hard shoulder of the motorway.

Although this campaign has now ended if you think that your business can help raise the awareness of Road Safety then please contact Jon Cottrell at the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.