RSA and Gardai launch new tyre safety campaign

With defective tyres now identified as a significant contributing factor in a large number of fatal traffic collisions, the RSA has launched a new campaign.  

A new report from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has revealed that vehicle factors played a role in one in eight, or 101 fatal collisions, in the period 2008 to 2012.

Defective tyres were the most significant factor, representing almost two thirds (64.1% or 66) of all vehicle factors identified. This was revealed at the launch of a landmark new report ‘Pre-Crash Report on Vehicle Factors in Fatal Collisions’1, the first of its kind in Ireland, which analysed An Garda Síochána Forensic Collision Investigation reports in order to identify the main contributory factors in collisions on Irish roads. The report was launched by the RSA, the Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe TD and An Garda Síochána today.

It studied 983 fatal collisions which occurred on Irish roads between 2008 and 2012, claiming the lives of 1,077 people. The forensic details of 867 fatal collisions were analysed to identify the cause of the collision – of these, 858 involved a motorised vehicle. Vehicle factors, such as defective tyres, brakes, steering or suspension, were found to have contributed to 101 of these fatal collisions, in combination with behavioural factors such as speeding, alcohol or drug use.

While defective tyres were the most significant factor, the report also found that defective brakes were also a contributory factor in road collisions between 2008 and 2012, contributing to 18 deaths and six serious injuries in collisions where a vehicle had defective brakes.

For information on tyre safety, download ‘Your Guide to Tyre Safety’ from the RSA website.

See the campaign video here: http://youtu.be/KBnbP8ITHmQ