Tyre defects lead to 2.15 million MOT failures
New figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency have revealed that 2.15 million vehicles failed their MOTs because of tyre defects.
This is up from just over two million the previous year, and a significant increase from the 2019/20 figure of 1.83 million.
The data also revealed that of the 2.15 million failures, 750,000 had previously been flagged with tyre-related advisories.
Commander Kyle Gordon from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) roads policing portfolio, said: “These figures are truly shocking. Over two million vehicles failing MOT due to something as basic as safe tyres is frightening. Tyre safety is not simply about compliance, it is absolutely critical to the safety of everyone using our roads.
“Defective tyres can turn even a careful and competent law-abiding driver into a killer as the weakest link in a chain of causality leading to a collision.
“With an average of five road deaths, and 80 serious injuries every day on our roads, it is the responsibility of every driver and rider to ensure that they are not personally the cause of the sort of daily heartbreak families and communities needlessly and consistently suffer at the hands of irresponsible road users.”
MOT system not working
Jamie Hassall, executive director at Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, added: “It’s clear the current system is not working given the numbers of MOT fails relating to a critical safety element of the vehicle.
“We need a people-centred approach using the safe system to ensure safety critical defects are being picked up earlier and supporting drivers to be safer so the police can focus on those that don’t.
“Given the maximum fine per tyre is £2,500, and up to £5,000 for commercial vehicles, the Government could be collecting over £5 billion in fines, should more resources be needed to look at this differently and fund wider road safety projects.”
