Drivers warned they could be hit with fines of up to £2,500

Motorists have been hit with a ‘plea’ as they could face huge £2,500 fines without realising.

The warning comes as schools break up today (Friday), with more families expected to make longer journeys by road in half. Experts from tire company Bridgestone surveyed 1,000 drivers in Liverpool and found a “worrying disconnect” between “the importance of tire safety and the actual practices of vehicle owners”.

Its findings are associated with around 152 deaths or serious accidents due to faulty tires in the last 12 months and around 6.1 million illegal tires on UK roads each year.

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The survey found that 50% of drivers were unaware of the legal tire tread limit of 1.6mm, while 35% admitted they had never thought to check their tyres. Of those drivers who admitted to checking their tires, 61% said they do so less than once a month.

If you are stopped by the police and your tires are found to be under the legal tread depth limit, you can receive three penalty points on your driving license and be fined up to £2,500 per illegal tyre.

Not only is driving with tires that have a tread below the limit illegal, it is also dangerous as it can put you and other road users at risk. Any insurance claims could also be invalidated.

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